Tlai^dy  and  Jialf  Hardy 


mj^GNFLOWGI^IN  GOLOR 


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i:3ifc£2i_JEi 


gjfi H.HILL  LIBRARY^ 


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145260 


'"lltuaXs  hardy   and 
j^alf-Hardy 


14526C 

This  book  may  be  kept  out  TWO  WEEKS 
ONLY,  and  is  subject  to  a  fine  of  FIVE 
CENTS  a  day  thereafter.  It  is  due  on  the 
day  indicated  below: 


60M— 048— Form  3 


INGOLOR 


EDITED  BY 

R.  HOOPER  PEARSON 
MANAGING  EDITOR 
OF  THE  GARDENERS' 
CHRONICLE 


/ 


^ 


PLATE    I    (^Frontispiece) 

DRUMMOND'S   PHLOX 

{Phlox  Drumnwndii) 


iMMials 


'By 
GJxan/isH.  GTi23iis 


NEW  YORK 

FREDERICK  A.   STOKES   CO. 


PREFACE 

The  life  of  a  true  Annual  does  not  extend  longer  than  one 
season.  Itself  the  produce  of  a  seed,  the  plant  produces 
flowers,  ripens  its  seed,  and  perishes  in  the  same  year. 

Annuals  are  not  the  weedy,  short-lived  things  they  appear 
to  many ;  on  the  contrary,  under  proper  treatment  they 
prove  to  be  amongst  the  most  floriferous  and  the  brightest 
plants  in  the  whole  flower  garden.  But  often  the  beds  are 
planted  as  thickly  as  a  clover  field,  and  huddled  together  thus 
the  plants  grow  so  weakly,  that  they  lean  on  each  other  for 
support,  and  are  incapable  of  developing  strong  flower  spikes. 
When  the  proper  principles  of  culture  become  better  known, 
the  Mustard-and-cress-like  groups  will  be  abandoned  for  ever, 
and  Godetias,  Clarkias,  Mignonette,  Marigolds,  Salpiglossis, 
Convolvuluses,  Cornflowers,  Larkspurs,  Drummond's  Phlox, 
Ten-week  Stocks  and  others  that  used  to  be  the  delight  of 
many  an  old  garden  will  become  popular  features  in  the 
modern  parterre.  Annuals  have  many  qualities  to  recommend 
them.  Seeds  can  be  purchased  cheaply  and  any  one  can 
raise  the  hardy  sorts  out-of-doors,  whilst  the  tender  kinds 
may  be  purchased  for  next  to  nothing  in  the  month  of  May, 
or  late  sowings  of  most  of  them  can  be  made  out-of-doors  in 
the  last  fortnight  of  April  and  the  first  fortnight  in  May. 
Those  who  have  pits  or  heated  frames  can  raise  them  in  pots 
or  boxes  and  thus  get  an  earlier  start.  Annuals  can  be  used 
to  fill  up  gaps  in  the  mixed  border,  and  when  the  flowering 
period  is  past  their  immediate  removal  leaves  the  border  with 


145260 


viii  PREFACE 

every  appearance  of  neatness.  Many  Annuals  are  valuable 
as  pot  plants  for  the  conservatory,  as,  for  instance,  Rhodanthe 
maculata,  Celosia  pltimosa,  Campanula  pyramidalis ,  C.  medium, 
and  Schizanthus  retusus.  There  are  no  more  brilliantly 
coloured  flowers  than  the  American  Eschscholzias  and  the 
gaudily  painted  varieties  of  Chrysanthevium  tricolor. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  present  volume  contains  such  practi- 
cal information  as  will  help  to  popularise  Annuals  and  induce 
cultivators  to  expend  more  cars  upon  them,  for  I  am  con- 
vinced that  they  do  not  occupy  the  prominent  position  in 
our  schemes  of  "Present-Day  Gardening"  that  tiieir  merits 
deserve. 

For  the  present  purpose  the  "  Kew  Hand  List  of  Herbace- 
ous Plants"  has  been  taken  as  the  authority  in  the  matter  of 
nomenclature.  The  genera  are  arranged  alphabetically  in 
each  division  of  the  book,  and  the  popular  names  are  given 
in  cases  where  these  are  generally  known.  Thanks  are  ten- 
dered to  Mr.  Walter  Irving  and  Mr.  S.  Arnott  for  kindly 
assistance  in  the  text,  and  to  Messrs,  Sutton  &  Sons  and  to 
Messrs.  Debbie  &  Co.  for  the  specimens  illustrated  in  the 
plates. 

C.  H.  C. 


CONTENTS 

CHAP.  PAGE 

I.  The  Value  of  Annuals i 

II.  Cultivation  of  Annuals 6 

III.  The  Most  Useful  Annuals ii 

IV.  Annuals  of  Less  Garden  Value 93 

V.  Selections  of  Annuals iii 


Index 


13 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 


PLATE 


I.  Drummond's  Phlox        .....  Frontispiece 


PAGE 


II.  Garden    Varieties    of    Coreopsis    Drummondii    and 

C.   TiNCTORIA 14 

III.  Cosmos  bipinnatus 26 

IV.  Dianthus  chinensis,  var.  Heddewigii         ...  42 
V.  African  Marigold  and  French  Marigold         .         .  58 

VI.  Sweet  Scabious 74 

VII.  Dwarf  Sunflowers 90 

VIII.  Double  Zinnias 104 


ANNUALS 
HARDY  AND    HALF-HARDY 

CHAPTER   I 

THE   VALUE   OF   ANNUALS 

It  may  be  stated  that  Annual  Flowers  are  of  immense  value  in 
the  Garden,  Greenhouse,  or  Conservatory  without  convey- 
ing anything  like  an  adequate  idea  of  the  great  importance 
of  this  large  group  of  plants.  Those  who  have  visited  the 
Horticultural  exhibitions  of  recent  years  must  have  been 
struck  by  the  increased  number  of  classes  provided  for 
Annuals,  and  also  by  the  splendid  competitions  these  classes 
succeed  in  exciting.  But  even  more  striking  are  the  advances 
our  seedsmen  and  cultivators  have  made  in  developing  and 
improving  the  flowers  belonging  to  this  group,  not  only  in 
colour  and  freedom  of  flowering,  but  also  in  the  habit  of 
growth. 

A  perusal  of  the  seedsmen's  catalogues  that  garden  lovers 
receive  at  the  commencement  of  each  year  will  prove  the 
importance  of  Annuals,  for  it  may  be  taken  for  granted 
that  seedsmen  would  not  list  them  so  freely  nor  illustrate 
them  so  beautifully,  if  there  was  anything  but  a  large  demand 
for  seeds. 

The  wide  areas  devoted  entirely  to  the  cultivation  of 
Annuals  for  seed-production  would  surprise  those  who  have 

A 

D.  H.  HILL  LIBRARY 
Nnrth  Carolirfa  State  College 


2  PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

not  visited  the  great  seed-growing  districts  of  our  own 
country,  not  to  mention  those  of  France,  Germany  and  the 
United  States,  or  who  have  not  had  opportunities  of  inspect- 
ing a  seed  warehouse  at  the  busiest  time  of  the  seedsmen's 
year.  The  cultivation  of  Annual  Flowers  for  seed  purposes 
is  a  great  and  increasing  business,  and  if  it  were  possible  tn 
obtain  figures  showing  the  capital  invested,  the  area  under 
cultivation,  and  the  amount  of  labour  employed,  these  in- 
formative details  would  be  very  interesting. 

Ever  since  the  publication  of  the  first  seed  catalogue,  the 
cleverest  horticulturists  have  devoted  their  attention  to  the 
improvement  of  Annuals,  and  in  modern  times,  with  the 
whole  world  laid  under  tribute,  and  with  rapid  communica- 
tion between  all  parts,  the  advance  is  systematic  and  striking. 
Selection  and  cross-fertilisation  have  improved  some  species 
well-nigh  out  of  knowledge,  whilst  hybridisation  has  given 
us  new  races  of  great  beauty.  Sweet  Peas  alone  afford  a 
remarkable  instance  of  what  can  be  done  by  selection  and 
cross-fertilisation  even  in  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

Patient  work  has  not  only  given  us  Annuals  very  distinct 
from  the  type  species,  but  it  has  secured  a  high  percentage 
of  fixity  in  the  colour  of  the  flowers  and  habit  of  growth. 
These  qualities  are  great  boons,  as  they  enable  the  owner  of 
a  garden  to  produce  the  colour  effects  he  or  she  desires,  and 
to  avoid  colours  that  are  undesirable  for  the  scheme  in  view. 
It  is  usual  to  place  great  confidence  in  the  seedsmen  in  these 
matters,  and  the  trust  is  but  rarely  misplaced.  We  may 
choose  tall,  intermediate,  or  dwarf  strains  of  many  of  the 
popular  Hardy  and  Half-hardy  Annuals,  and  be  quite  certain 
that  when  we  plant  out  our  seedlings  it  will  not  be  the  fault 
of  the  seedsman  if,  where  we  wished  for  a  s^-ain  suitable  for 
either  edging  or  carpeting  a  bed  or  border,  .e  have  plants  of 
tall  or  intermediate  habit.  The  fault  will  be  most  likely  due 
to  our  own  carelessness. 


VALUE    OF    ANNUALS 


3 


A  little  consideration  will  show  that  the  sphere  of  useful- 
ness of  Annuals  is  much  wider  than  at  first  sight  appears. 
So  far  as  the  Flower  garden  is  concerned,  and  the  term  Flower 
garden  is  here  used  in  its  widest  sense,  their  value  is  more 
recognised  every  year.  The  plants  exhibit  such  different 
heights,  habits,  and  colours  that  they  afford  ample  scope  for 
providing  bold  effects  and  permit  the  planting  of  whole 
borders  or  large  beds.  In  some  of  the  larger  gardens  I  have 
seen  Annuals  used  exclusively  for  decorating  a  special  portion 
of  the  Flower  garden,  and  with  good  effect.  In  other  instances 
they  are  used  in  conjunction  with  Perennials  to  complete 
certain  colour  effects,  and  right  well  do  they  play  their  part, 
for  whether  it  is  a  red,  a  blue,  a  yellow,  a  purple,  or  a  white 
border  that  is  desired,  it  can  scarcely  be  produced  over  any 
considerable  period  without  their  aid. 

The  Herbaceous  Border  is  a  great  feature  in  present-day 
gardening  ;  of  various  sizes,  it  is  found  in  practically  every 
establishment.  But  in  the  maintenance  of  such  a  border  the 
Annual  flowers  often  play  a  by  no  means  unimportant  part. 
When  the  early  flowers  are  over,  especially  those  of  bulbous 
plants,  there  are  gaps  not  easily  filled  with  anything  save 
Annuals,  therefore  as  fill-ups  and  stop-gaps  they  serve  a  very 
useful  purpose. 

To  the  fragrance  of  the  garden  they  contribute  their  full 
share,  and  one  has  only  to  think  of  the  sweetness  of  the 
Stocks,  Mignonette,  Candytuft,  Sweet  Peas,  and  Nycterinia  to 
appreciate  this  fact. 

Without  the  help  of  Annuals  it  would  be  a  very  difficult 
matter  indeed  to  beautify  a  quite  new  and  bare  garden, 
supposing  the  garden  to  be  one  attached  to  a  suburban  villa 
that  becomes  ready  for  occupation  at  the  end  of  March. 
Summer  bedding  plants  could  be  used  but  they  would  prove 
costly,  and,  for  the  most  part^  uninteresting,  whereas  Annuals 
can  be  purchased  for  a  comparatively  small  sum,  and  they 


4         PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

can  be  depended  upon  to  give  the  finest  colour  displays 
obtainable. 

Climbing  Annuals  are  fairly  plentiful,  and  the  tall  Tropae- 
olums,  Ipomaeas,  Sweet  Peas,  and  others,  with  Giant  Sun- 
flowers and  Mallows,  will  hide  the  fences,  and  form  screens 
and  backgrounds  for  the  intermediate  and  dwarf  subjects.  In 
the  foreground  we  may  place  such  plants  as  Phlox  Dt-umviondii, 
Alyssiim  marituman.Brachycome ibendifolia,dwa.v{ Tropaeolums 
of  the  Tom  Thumb  strain,  dwarf  Convolvuluses,  Mignonette, 
Nemesias,  Phacelia  ca)npaui4/aria,  Diascia  Bafberae,  and  others. 

Not  a  few  Hardy  and  Half-hardy  Annuals  are  capital  sub- 
jects for  pot  culture  for  the  decoration  of  the  Greenhouse 
or  Conservatory,  and  a  few  that  readily  come  to  mind  in 
this  connection  are  the  double  Clarkias,  Nemesias,  the  fine 
varieties  of  Chrysanthemum — these  are  grown  extensively 
in  pots  for  market  sale, — Salpiglossis  in  many  colours  and 
exquisitely  veined,  Rhodantlie  Mang/esii,  Mignonette,  Phlox 
Druinmondii,  Linums,  Kochia  tricho/>hila,  Collinsia  bicolor,  and 
China  Asters,  though  it  is  not  often  the  Asters  are  grown 
in  pots  from  seed  sowing  to  flowering,  the  practice  being  to 
raise  them  in  a  little  warmth,  plant  them  out-of-doors,  and 
then  lift  and  pot  them  directly  the  flowers  show  their  colour. 

Annuals  appeal  irresistibly  to  many  people  because  the 
flowers  are  e.\quisite  for  cutting.  Flowers  fill  so  large  a 
place  in  the  amenities  of  the  household,  that  if  suitable 
kinds  can  be  grown  in  quantity,  and  cheaply,  it  is  a  great 
advantage.  It  must  be  said,  however,  that  the  usefulness  of 
Annuals  in  this  direction  is  not  fully  appreciated,  and  it  is 
a  fortunate  circumstance  that  Mr.  Felton,  in  his  "  British 
Floral  Decorations,"  refers  to  this  matter.  He  specially  re- 
commends Asters,  Clarkiaelegansy  Cosmos,  Godetias,  especially 
G.  Schaminii  fl.  pi.,  Gypsophila  elegans,  Lavatera  and  Malope 
(used  at  home  only),  Nemesias,  Nigella  Miss  Jekyll,  Salpi- 
glossis, Scabious,  Stocks,  the  Stella  group  of  Sunflowers,  Sweet 


CLIMBING    ANNUALS  5 

Sultans,  Shirley  Poppies,  Sweet  Peas,  and  Cornflowers.  To 
these  may  be  added,  for  home  use,  not  for  travelling,  Alonsoa 
Warscewicsii^  various  Tropaeolums,  Coreopsis,  Cacalia  coccinea, 
Marigolds,  Larkspurs,  Annual  Gaillardias,  Candytuft,  Linaria 
maroccana  and  Linums. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  rock-gardening  is  so  popular 
it  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  some  Annuals  are  very  suitable 
for  association  with  Alpine  and  other  dwarf  plants  in  the 
Rock  Garden.  Campanula  drabaefolia,  Mesenibryanthemuin 
crystallvtunty  M . pomeridanuni,  and  M. pyropaeum,  Layia  elegans, 
Giliaandi'osacea  and  G.  rosea,  Limnanthes  Douglasii,  Portulacas, 
lonopsidium.  acaule,  Grammanthes  gentianoides,  Eucharidiums, 
Dimorphotheca  aurantiaca,  and  Brachycome  ibiridifolia  are  but 
a  few  of  those  that  may  be  usefully  employed  for  filling  bare 
spaces  in  the  Rock  Garden,  or  for  cultivation  on  those  parts 
where  spring-flowering  bulbous  plants  make  an  early  display 
and  then  die  down. 

When  we  come  to  consider  Climbing  Annuals  it  is 
obvious  that  the  fullest  possible  use  is  not  made  of  the 
wealth  of  material  at  disposal.  Every  one  knows  how  beauti- 
ful is  Tropaeolum peregrinum,  the  ever  popular  Canary  Creeper, 
which  grows  so  quickly  and  covers  a  large  space  with  its 
elegant,  light  green  leafage  and  myriads  of  little,  golden, 
bird-like  blossoms.  The  climbing  Tropaeolum  viajus  and  the 
showy  T.  Lobbianum  are  also  well  known,  and  no  one  dare 
plead  ignorance  of  Sweet  Peas.  But  there  are  other  climb- 
ing Annuals,  and  they  include  Thunbergia  alata,  Loasa  auran- 
tiaca— this  has  stinging  leaves,  and  may  be  used  with  advan- 
tage at  a  spot  where  it  becomes  necessary  to  keep  other 
people's  "hands  from  picking  and  stealing";  the  Japanese 
Hop  [Hiwiulus  japoniacs),  a  particularly  useful  climber  ; 
the  various  Ipomaeas  or  climbing  Convolvuluses ;  orna- 
mental gourds  in  great  variety,  chiefly  members  of  the 
Cucumis  and  Cucurbita  families,  though  Trichosanthes  anguina 


6         PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

may,  without  any  severe  stretch  of  imagination,  be  regarded 
as  a  Half-hardy  Annual  ;  and  Lathyrus  grandiflorus,  which 
bears  large  rose-coloured  blooms,  are  all  well  worthy  of 
cultivation.  Of  lesser  value,  but  interesting  and  useful,  are 
Aviphicarpaea  vionoica,  the  violet-flowered  Hog-pea  Nut  ;  and 
Grauiviatocarpus  vohibilis,  a  Half-hardy  Chilian  species  with 
yellow  flowers. 

Even  within  the  range  of  Bog-loving  and  Aquatic  plants 
there  are  a  few  Annuals  of  garden  value,  notably  Malcoviia 
viaritiina,  Samolus  Vaierandii,  Saxi/nigo  Cymbalaria,  Trapa 
natanSy  T.  verbanensis,  and  Valisncria  spiralis. 

The  occupants  of  the  Vegetable  Garden  do  not  come 
within  the  scope  of  the  present  work,  but  in  concluding 
this  brief  tribute  to  the  usefulness  of  Hardy  and  Half- 
hardy  Annuals  it  will  not  be  out  of  place  to  remember  the 
indebtedness  of  gardens  to  Peas,  Dwarf  Beans,  Broad 
Beans,  Lettuces,  Spinach,  Melons,  Tomatoes,  Mustard,  Maize, 
and  Vegetable  Marrows,  for  food  of  the  highest  value,  whilst 
the  indebtedness  would  be  further  increased  if  Hardy  Biennial 
plants  were  included. 

CHAPTER  II 

CULTIVATION  OF  ANNUALS 

It  has  been  frequently  stated  that  the  great  secret  of  garden- 
ing lies  in  "doing  the  right  thing  at  the  right  time."  But 
although  no  one  with  gardening  experience  will  raise  any 
objection  to  that  statement,  it  is  a  fact  that  the  capacity  to 
carry  out  the  instructions  implies  a  vast  amount  of  know- 
ledge. We  need  to  know  the  right  thing  to  do  and  we  must 
learn  the  right  time  to  do  it,  and  it  is  scarcely  less  important 
to  know  what  to  avoid.  First,  then,  we  must  not  buy  cheap 
seeds  merely  because  they  are  cheap. 


CULTIVATION    OF    ANNUALS       7 

This  is  an  age  of  cheapness,  and  most  people  en- 
deavour to  obtain  as  much  as  possible  for  the  money  they 
spend.  This  is  all  very  well  if  quality  rather  than 
bulk  or  number  is  considered.  But  low-priced  seeds  are 
often  the  dearest.  Just  as  much  time  and  labour  are  neces- 
sary for  cultivating  plants  of  a  poor,  weedy  strain  of  Annuals 
as  those  of  a  fine  one  that  are  the  result  of  years  of  skilful 
selection  or  breeding ;  consequently,  a  strain  will  give  the 
best  possible  return  for  the  care  we  bestow  upon  the  seed- 
lings. Happily,  nowadays  it  is  possible  to  purchase  a  small 
packet  of  a  good  strain  of  seeds  for  the  same  price  as  a 
large  packet  of  inferior  strain. 

Avoid  thick  sowing.  How  many  times,  I  wonder,  has  the 
advice  "  Do  not  sow  too  thickly,"  been  given  ?  Beyond  all 
computation.  Such  advice  is  excellent,  but  "  too  thickly," 
like  "too  wet"  and  "too  dry,"  are  terms  that  convey  little 
to  the  novice,  although  they  are  fairly  well  understood  when 
used  by  experienced  cultivators.  Mustard  and  Cress,  for 
salad  purposes,  are  usually  sown  as  thickly  as  the  seeds  can  be 
placed  in  one  layer,  but  the  end  in  view  is  not  to  obtain  sturdy 
plants  to  branch  freely,  flower  profusely,  and  last  in  beauty 
the  Summer  through.  Even  the  cleverest  growers  find  it 
difficult  to  sow  seeds  of  Annuals  as  thinly  as  they  should 
be  sown.  The  germinating  power  of  purchased  seeds  is 
higher  now  than  ever  it  was,  therefore  there  is  no  need 
to  allow  any  considerable  margin  for  failure.  The  allowance 
should  be  larger  for  outdoor  than  for  indoor  sowings,  because 
unpropitious  weather  and  such  enemies  as  slugs  have  to 
be  taken  into  account.  If,  when  sowing  seeds,  we  always 
remembered  that  every  seedling  should  have  room  to  fully 
open  out  its  seed-leaves  without  let  or  hindrance  from  its 
neighbours,  there  would  be  far  fewer  mistakes  made.  Even 
more  space  than  this  should  be  allowed  unless  time  and 
conveniences  can  be  provided  for  promptly  pricking  off  the 


8  PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

seedlings,  or  for  thinning  them  severely  before  they  crowd 
one  another  in  the  slightest  degree.  Some  Aimuals  will  not 
bear  transplantation  and  must  be  sown  out-of-doors  where 
they  are  to  flower ;  in  such  cases  thick  sowing  renders 
success  impossible,  and  the  neglect  of  proper  thinning  is  a 
distinct  proof  of  bad  cultivation. 

Excess  of  moisture  should  be  prevented  as  a  plague. 
The  seeds  should  be  sown  in  light,  sandy  soil,  and  the  re- 
ceptacles must  be  provided  with  ample  drainage.  This 
applies  equally  to  seeds  sown  in  pots  and  boxes  or  in  the 
open  ground.  Lack  of  sufficient  moisture  is  as  injurious  as 
the  other  extreme.  It  is  a  fact  that  irregularities  in  watering, 
coupled  with  thick  sowing,  are  responsible  for  most  of  the 
failures  that  arise  in  the  earlier  stages  of  the  culture  of 
Annuals. 

Very  large  quantities  of  Hardy  and  Half-hardy  Annuals 
are  now  raised  each  Spring  under  glass  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  stocks  of  strong,  sturdy,  well-rooted  plants  ready 
for  planting  out-of-doors  in  April  or  early  in  May.  Where 
a  greenhouse,  frame  or  pit,  from  which  frost  can  be  ex- 
cluded, can  be  requisitioned,  cither  or  all  of  these  struc- 
tures will  afford  suitable  shelter  for  early  batches.  Excess 
of  heat  must  be  avoided.  When  the  plants  are  raised 
in  thi^  fashion,  there  is  a  great  temptation  to  take  full 
advantage  of  these  shelters  and  so  secure  big  plants 
when  plantmg  time  arrives.  In  this  connexion  it  is  worth 
while  to  remember  that  large  plants  are  by  no  means 
the  best  for  planting  out,  because  growth  produced  under 
favourable  conditions  under  glass  is  apt  to  suffer  badly 
should  cold  or  windy  weather  follow  immediately  after 
planting  in  the  open  bed  or  border.  Further,  the  larger  the 
plants  the  more  room  will  they  need,  and  space  is  usually 
limited  for  the  accommodation  of  such  subjects.  Again,  the 
larger  the  plants  the  more  root  room  will  they  require  and 


TIME    OF    SOWING  9 

the  more  attention  will  they  need  in  the  matter  of  watering, 
and  there  is  the  greater  likelihood  of  trouble  from  drought  and 
insufficient  nourishment. 

When  Annuals  are  raised  under  glass  the  aim  should  be 
to  provide  an  atmosphere  and  temperature  for  them  such  as 
prevail  in  April,  the  month  when  some  of  the  earliest  Annuals 
should  be  appearing  above  ground  in  the  outdoor  seed  beds. 
The  date  of  sowing  must  be  arranged  so  that  the  seedlings, 
after  due  growth  and  careful  hardening  off,  are  just  needing 
more  root  room  when  planting  time  arrives.  No  definite 
date  or  dates  can  be  given  that  will  be  certain  to  bring  about 
this  ideal  condition  of  things,  because  many  and  varied 
circumstances  come  into  play,  even  beyond  the  differences 
of  climate  that  prevail  in  different  districts. 

In  districts  where  the  soil  and  climate  are  both  favourable 
Autumn  sowing  is  well  worth  while,  because  it  enables  the 
plants  to  produce  a  good  root  system,  and  the  result  is  sturdy 
plants  that  come  into  flower  early.  A  sheltered  spot  where 
the  soil  is  well  drained  and  contains  a  fair  proportion  of 
grit  and  leaf-mould  is  suitable  for  this  method ;  but  here 
again  thin  sowing  and  early  thinning  must  be  insisted  upon. 
If  pleasant  Autumn  weather  follows  sowing,  especially  if  con- 
siderable moisture  accompanies  the  warmth,  then  the  seed- 
lings will  certainly  become  "soft"  or  sappy  unless  thinned 
severely  as  soon  as  they  can  be  handled  safely.  If  they  do 
become  sappy  or  spindly,  then  the  losses  during  the  winter 
are  likely  to  be  severe  notwithstanding  the  hardiness  of  the 
subject.  However,  despite  the  risks  of  weather  and  the 
losses  through  pests,  Autumn  sowing  gives  gratifying  results 
nine  times  out  of  ten,  whether  the  seedlings  are  planted  out 
the  same  year  or  left  in  the  bed  to  be  transplanted  at  the  first 
favourable  opportunity  in  the  Spring.  I  have  had  annual 
Chrysanthemums  a  yard  high  and  almost  as  much  through 
from  Autumn  sown  seeds. 


lo       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

Most  Annuals  succeed  best  in  deep  rich  soil,  and  it  is  a 
mistake  to  imagine  because  they  are  only  of  annual  duration 
therefore  their  needs  are  few  and  they  can  take  care  of  them- 
selves. They  will  certainly  take  care  of  themselves  in  the 
sense  that  they  will  rapidly  fulfil  their  mission  so  far  as  this 
is  tauf^ht  them  by  Nature.  The  end  they  have  in  view  is  to 
produce  the  largest  possible  amount  of  seeds  in  the  shortest 
possible  time.  But  that  is  hardly  the  purpose  of  the  culti- 
vator. Comparatively  few  people — and  this  applies  particu- 
larly to  the  owners  of  small  gardens — have  a  knowledge  of 
the  capacity  of  Annuals  when  the  plants  are  given  every 
possible  chance.  If  people  would  give,  say,  a  Larkspur,  an 
annual  Chrysanthemum,  an  Ostrich  Plume  Aster,  a  Ten-week 
Stock,  a  Clarkia,  or  a  Coreopsis,  ample  room  to  develop  freely 
in  rich  soil,  with  no  hard-feeding  and  hard-drinking  competi- 
tors to  fight  against,  the  revelation  of  beauty  and  grace, 
freedom  and  brilliance  they  would  give  would  be  worth  more 
than  many  pages  of  advice,  and  would  I  think  tend  to  exalt 
Annuals  in  the  general  estimation  of  the  public. 

Firm  planting,  a  good  watering  to  settle  the  soil  about  the 
roots,  and  a  free  use  of  the  Dutch  hoe  are  cultural  items  to 
be  practised,  not  avoided.  Close  planting  is  as  illogical  as  thick 
sowing  ;  it  destroys  the  beauty  of  the  plants,  reduces  their 
effectiveness,  and  shortens  their  season  of  flowering.  The 
necessary  supports  for  all  tall-growing  subjects  must  be  pro- 
vided early  in  the  Summer,  and  the  stakes  used  should  be 
slender  and  strong,  and  sufficiently  tall  to  serve  all  the  season 
through. 

Annuals  used  for  garden  decoration  must  not  be  allowed 
to  ripen  seeds.  Nothing  reduces  the  vitality  of  a  plant  more 
than  the  effort  to  bring  a  crop  of  seeds  to  perfection.  An 
Annual  is  quite  willing  to  give  up  its  life  quickly  to  do  so  ; 
indeed,  under  natural  conditions  its  motto  seems  to  be  "  A 
Short  Life  and  a  Merry  One."     The  prompt  removal  of  faded 


THE    MOST    USEFUL    ANNUALS     ii 

flowers  will  do  much  to  lengthen  the  life  and  usefulness  of 
the  plants.  Leave  seeding  to  the  seedsman,  it  is  his  business, 
and  he  will  probably  do  the  work  far  better  than  you.  If 
you  are  a  raiser  or  are  working  for  the  improvement  of  any 
section  of  Annuals,  the  case  is  different,  because  the  assump- 
tion is  that  you  possess  the  knowledge  generally  believed  to 
be  the  exclusive  possession  of  specialists. 


CHAPTER   III 

THE    MOST    USEFUL   ANNUALS 

ADONIS 

"  Adonis  Flower  "  or  *'  Pheasant' s  Eye  " 

So  popular  are  the  beautiful  Spring-flowering  perennials, 
Adorns  vernalis  and  the  newer  A.  amurensis,  that  the  annual 
species  of  this  little  family  of  the  Buttercup  tribe  {Ranun- 
culacece)  are  apt  to  be  overlooked.  But  they  are  very  pretty, 
perfectly  hardy,  and  quite  easily  raised  from  a  March  sowing 
in  the  open  ground.  Their  height  varies  from  i  foot  to 
i8  inches,  according  to  soil  and  position.  Both  the  fol- 
lowing species  are  suitable  alike  for  the  front  of  the  mixed 
border  and  for  the  Rock  Garden. 

A.  CBstivalis  is  from  Southern  Europe  and  has  crimson- 
scarlet  flowers,  while  A.  autuvinalis  has  blood-red  blooms 
with  a  dark  centre.  Both  plants  commence  to  flower  in  June, 
earlier  if  sown  in  the  Autumn,  and  each  produces  elegant 
foliage  as  well  as  bright  and  attractive  flowers.  A.  autuvinalis 
is  a  native  plant,  and  one  familiar  in  some  districts  as  Corn 
Adonis,  Pheasant's  Eye,  or  Red  Chamomile. 


12       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

AGERATUM 

"  Floss-Flower'* 

While  for  practical  purposes  it  is  possible  to  treat  not 
a  few  perennial  plants  as  Annuals,  it  is  also  possible  to  so 
treat  some  Annuals  that  to  all  intents  they  become  Peren- 
nials. Such  is  the  "art  that  doth  mend  Nature,  change  it 
rather."  The  Ageratums  are  mostly  Half-hardy  Annuals, 
natives  of  Central  and  South  America,  but  if  they  are  not 
allowed  to  ripen  seeds  (and  this  they  rarely  do  in  our 
climate),  they  may  be  propagated  from  cuttings  year  after 
year,  the  stock  plants  being  lifted  and  potted  in  the  Autumn 
and  kept  in  a  Greenhouse  during  the  Winter.  Early  in  the 
year  these  plants  begin  to  grow  freely  and  provide  a  quantity 
of  cuttings  that  may  be  rooted  easily  in  sandy  soil  in  a 
temperature  of  from  60°  to  70°.  It  is  by  this  means 
that  the  specially  dwarf  strains  are  frequently  cultivated 
for  Summer  bedding,  but  so  well  are  many  of  the  best 
forms  fixed,  that  seed-raised  stocks  show  little  variation 
in  height  and  even  less  in  the  colour  of  their  flower 
clusters. 

Sowing  under  glass  should  take  place  in  February  or 
March,  the  usual  processes  of  pricking  off  and  hardening  off 
being  followed  so  that  sturdy  plants  are  available  for  planting 
early  in  June.  A  sowing  on  a  warm  border  early  in  April 
will  provide  excellent  material,  especially  if  there  is  no 
special  need  for  plants  to  flower  at  the  earliest  possible 
moment. 

The  parent  of  the  garden  race  of  Ageratums  is  A.  mexicana, 
a  species  that  grows  about  18  inches  high,  and  produces  small 
Composite  heads  of  lilac-blue  flowers, borne  in  denseclusters  and 
in  the  greatest  profusion.     Numerous  varieties  are  catalogued. 


PLATE    II 

GARDEN  VARIETIES   OF   COREOPSIS   DRUMMONDII 
AND   C.   TINCTORIA 


ALONSOAS  15 

and  some  of  the  best  are  Blue  Star,  6  inches,  light  blue ; 
Imperial  Dwarf,  8  inches,  deep  lavender-blue  ;  Little  Dorrit, 
6  inches,  lavender ;  Snowfllake,  9  inches,  white ;  Swanley 
Blue,  9  inches,  deep  blue  ;  Victoria  Louise,  6  inches,  light 
blue  with  whitish  centre ;  and  Lavender  Band,  5  inches, 
soft  lavender. 

ALONSOA 

** Mask  Flower'* 

Delightful  alike  for  beds,  borders,  or  for  pot  culture,  the 
Alonsoas  {Scrophulariacecg)  fully  deserve  a  larger  measure  of 
popularity  than  they  enjoy.  Charmingly  elegant,  growing 
from  9  inches  to  i|  foot  high,  and  making  dense  little  bushes 
that  are  smothered  with  brilliant,  large-lipped  flowers  all  the 
Summer  through,  the  Alonsoas  possess  an  unique  beauty. 
Most  of  the  species  may  be  treated  as  Annuals,  but  a  few  of 
the  best  are  true  Half-hardy  Annuals.  The  seeds  are  small, 
and  must  be  only  just  covered  with  fine,  sandy  soil ;  March 
is  a  good  time  to  sow,  and  a  temperature  of  60°  will  be  high 
enough.  A  sowing  out-of-doors  in  April  will  give  good  re- 
sults. Prick  out  the  seedlings  early  and  plant  them,  in  May 
or  early  June,  where  they  have  to  flower.  Six  inches  apart 
is  sufficient  space  for  the  dwarf  compact  growers,  but  the 
taller  sorts  need  more  room. 

The  chief  species  are  A.  linifoHa,  i  foot  to  i\  foot  high, 
scarlet ;  A.  miniata,  i  foot,  bright  scarlet ;  A.7n.  Scarlet  Gem, 
I  foot,  a  fine  and  brilliant  scarlet  variety ;  A.  Mutisii,  i  foot, 
pink  with  crimson  centre;  and  A.  Warscewiczii,  i\  foot, 
vermilion-scarlet,  with  golden  stamens.  There  are  some  good 
selected  strains  of  Alonsoas  on  the  market,  probably  obtained 
from  A.  Warscewiczii,  and  both  scarlet  and  creamy-pink 
varieties  that  grow  about  9  inches  high  and  are  very  distinct 
and  beautiful. 


i6       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 
ALYSSUM 

"  Sweet  Alyssjim  " 

There  must  be  few  flower  lovers  who  are  unacquainted 
with  the  Sweet  Alyssum,  the  white-flowered  honey-scented 
plant  that  has  been  a  favourite  for  lon^  years  past.  The  type, 
Alyssum  marithnuvi,  or  Koeniga  inaritima  {Cruciferce),  is  not 
a  native  plant,  but  is  a  garden  escape  in  some  parts  "of  the 
country  and  grows  freely  in  a  wild  fashion  where  it  has 
established  itself.  This  is  quite  hardy  and  grows  about 
6  inches  high.  Latterly,  however,  a  very  dwarf  race  has 
been  fixed,  rising  not  more  than  3  or  4  inches  high,  and 
forming  a  dense  carpet  of  vegetation  that  quickly  becomes 
smothered  with  white,  sweetly -scented  flowers,  and  there- 
fore is  a  great  favourite  with  gardeners  who  need  a  subject 
that  will  cover  the  ground  under  tall  and  tender  plants. 
There  are  several  forms  of  this  dwarf  strain,  or  at  least  a 
very  similar  form  is  listed  under  the  names  compactum, 
minimum,  Little  Dorrit,  and  Rock  Alyssum. 

The  dwarf  forms  may  be  raised  from  cuttings,  or 
propagated  from  seeds  sown  in  light  soil  during  March  or 
April.  Though  so  small,  the  plants  spread  freely,  and  should 
not  be  planted  nearer  together  than  6  inches. 

AMARANTHUS 

*^  Amaranth  " 

Although  one  or  two  species  of  Amaranthus  {Amarantacea;) 
are  sometimes  described  as  Hardy  Annuals,  it  is  a  much 
better  plan  to  consider  them  all  as  Half-hardy.  Most  of  the 
species    are    found    in    India,    but    others    come    from    the 


AMARANTHUS  17 

Bahamas,  Japan,  the  Phihppines,  and  the  East  Indies. 
Individually  the  flowers  are  quite  small,  but  they  are  produced 
in  enormous  quantities  in  velvety,  tassel-like  spikes  or 
clusters,  these  often  being  much  branched  and  semi- 
pendulous  or  even  quite  so.  They  are  striking  and  in- 
teresting plants,  though  not  showy,  and  their  vigorous 
growth  makes  them  serviceable  for  large  beds  and  borders. 
The  flowers  are  purple,  red,  or  crimson.  But  it  is  as 
foliage  plants  that  Amaranthuses  are  most  valuable,  the 
colour  of  the  leafage  being  very  effective  in  many  of  the 
varieties. 

March  is  quite  early  enough  for  seed-sowing,  and  if  a 
temperature  of  about  65°  can  be  provided  germination  soon 
takes  place  and  the  seedlings  make  rapid  progress.  Very 
early  sowing  is  not  desirable  unless  there  is  an  abundance 
of  room  for  the  plants  to  remain  under  glass  until  the 
middle  of  May,  when  they  may  be  placed  out-of-doors  in  a 
sheltered  place  preparatory  to  planting  at  the  end  of  the 
month  or  early  in  June.  Choose  a  sunny  spot  and  plant  in 
groups. 

The  best  sorts  are  A.  bicolor,  2  feet,  green  and  yellow 
leaves;  and  the  variety  ruber,  i|  foot,  crimson,  green,  and 
purple  leaves;  A.  caudatus,  the  well-known  Love-lies- 
Bleeding,  2  feet  to  3  feet,  large,  drooping  spikes  of  purplish 
flowers;  A.  Hetideri,  3  feet,  leaves  carmine-red,  orange,  and 
olive-green  ;  A.  Jiypochondriacus,  2  feet  to  4  feet,  flowers  deep 
crimson,  leaves  purple  underneath;  A.  melanckolicus,  i|  foot, 
crimson  leaves  and  flowers  ;  A.  salicifolius,  3  feet,  leaves  long 
and  wavy,  orange  and  bronze  -,  A.  s.  Princess  of  Wales,  3  feet, 
leaves  orange,  green,  and  yellow;  A.  sanguineus,  3  feet, 
flowers  purple  and  leaves  blood  red;  A.  speciosus  (syn.  A. 
paniadatus),  crimson-purple  flowers  and  red-shaded  leaves  ; 
A.  tricolor,  \\  foot,  leaves  purple-red,  yellow,  and  green  \  A.  t. 
splendenSy  2  feet,  a  very  beautiful  plant,  and  as  its  leaves  are 

6 


>«        PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

coloured    crimson,    scarlet,    orange-yellow,    and    green,    the 
name  of  Joseph's  Coat  has  been  given  it. 

All  the  taller-growing  and  bright-leaved  Amaranthuses  are 
valuable  for  sub-tropical  effects  in  the  garden. 


ANDROSACE 

"  Rock  Jasmine  " 

Some  difference  of  opinion  exists  as  to  whether  Androsace 
coronopifolia  {Priviulacece)  is  an  Annual  or  a  Biennial,  but  it  is 
usually  listed  as  an  Annual,  and  it  lends  itself  to  "  Annual  " 
treatment.  The  correct  name  of  this  plant,  by  the  way,  is 
A.  lactiflora.  It  is  an  Alpine  gem,  about  6  mches  high,  pro- 
ducing beautiful,  elegant  little  heads  of  small,  pure  white 
flowers  early  in  Summer.  The  Rock  garden  is  the  proper 
place  for  Androsace  lactiflora^  and  a  little  group  of  plants 
makes  a  charming  picture.  Seeds  may  be  sown  either  in 
Autumn  or  Spring,  but  no  artificial  heat  should  be  used. 
Autumn-raised  plants  must  receive  cold  frame  protection 
through  the  Winter,  as  they  are  liable  to  suffer  from  wet  and 
damp  weather.  A  liberal  addition  of  peat,  leaf-mould,  sand 
and  broken  limestone,  should  be  made  to  the  staple  soil  for 
these  lovely  plants.  When  they  are  suited  as  to  soil  and  posi- 
tion they  seed  freely,  and  the  self-sown  plants  that  arise  are  the 
hardiest ;  beyond  placing  a  sheet  of  glass  over  them  to  throw 
off  rain  and  snow,  they  may  be  left  to  take  care  of  themselves. 


ARNEBIA 

"  Prophet  Flower  " 

The  Hardy  Annual  Arnebias  {Boraginacece)  are  by  no  means 
well  known,  but  here,  as  in  the  case  of  so  many  beautiful 


BRACHYCOME  19 

Annuals,  it  only  needs  some  enterprising  seedsman  to  grow 
and  show  them  well  to  ensure  their  popularity.  The  follow- 
ing species  are  hardy,  but  A.  cornuta  does  best  when  raised 
under  glass  from  seeds  sown  in  March,  though  both  A. 
cornuta  and  A.  Griffithii  may  be  raised  out-of-doors  from  an 
April  sowing.  Each  is  a  delightful  subject,  and  the  first  is  a 
capital  plant  for  the  border,  whilst  A.  Griffithii  is  useful  alike 
for  the  border  and  the  Rock  garden. 

Only  the  two  annual  species  are  in  cultivation.  A  cornuta, 
i\  foot,  becomes  a  dense  mass  of  yellow  through  the  Summer 
and  Autumn,  and  each  flower  has  five  black  spots  that  fade  to 
maroon  in  a  day  or  so  ;  A.  Griffithii,  9  inches,  has  rich  yellow 
flowers,  and  is  a  native  of  North-west  India. 


BRACHYCOME 

"  Swan  River  Daisy  " 

The  Swan  River  Daisies  are  elegant.  Half-hardy  Annuals 
from  6  inches  to  12  inches  high.  They  are  very  useful  for 
edging  beds  occupied  with  larger  subjects,  and  they  make  a 
good  show  if  grown  in  a  patch  filling  a  space  of  a  square 
yard.  The  best-known  species  is  B.  iberidifolia  {Compositce), 
introduced  from  the  Swan  River  in  1843.  Though  fairly 
popular  it  has  not  yet  gained  the  favour  it  merits,  but  now 
that  seedsmen  are  working  hard  and  successfully  to  secure 
greater  freedom  of  flowering,  a  better  habit  of  growth,  larger 
flowers,  and  some  variety  of  colouring,  there  is  little  doubt 
that  before  long  it  will  deserve  a  place  in  most  gardens.  The 
flowers  closely  resemble  those  of  the  Star  Cinerarias,  and  they 
are  of  a  deep  blue  colour  ;  Blue  Star  has  brighter  blue 
flowers,  while  there  are  white  and  rose  coloured  varieties 
listed  in  the  best  catalogues. 

A  sunny  position  and  light,  rich  soil    suits  these  pretty 


20       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

Daisies,  and  it  is  an  easy  matter  to  raise  a  good  stock  of  plants 
by  making  a  sowing  out-of-doors  in  April,  or,  where  the 
soil  is  cold  or  the  district  a  late  one,  an  alternative  plan  is 
to  sow  in  gentle  heat  in  March  or  April,  and  prick  off  the 
seedlings  quite  early,  giving  them  ample  room  to  develop. 
Crowded  seedlings  result  in  slender  plants  that  will  need 
the  support  of  low  twigs  at,  or  soon  after,  planting  time,  at 
the  end  of  May. 


CALANDRINIA 

"  Rock  Purslane  " 

The  showy  Calandrinia  grandifiora  {Portulacece)  is  a  useful 
hardy  subject  and  also  a  handsome  one,  flowering  finely  in 
the  Rock  garden  or  in  a  sunny  border  where  the  soil  is  fairly 
dry.  On  dry  walls  it  is  quite  at  home,  and  if  it  does  not  here 
attain  its  full  height  it  blooms  with  prodigal  freedom  and  is  a 
gem  for  such  a  position.  In  favourable  conditions  this  Rock 
Purslane  grows  i^  foot  high,  and  the  bright  rose-coloured 
fiowers  with  their  golden  anthers  show  up  finely  above  the 
grey-green,  succulent  foliage.  C.  Menziesii  (or  C.  spcciosa) 
rarely  exceeds  9  inches,  and  it  has  purplish-crimson  flowers 
that  shine  brightly  in  the  Spring  and  Summer  sunshine.  Both 
species  may  be  sown  out-of-doors  in  the  Autumn  to  flower 
early  the  following  season,  or  sown  in  April  for  later  flower- 
ing. Sometimes  seeds  are  sown  in  a  greenhouse  in  March 
and  the  seedlings  are  planted  out  in  May  or  June  ;  this  is  a 
good  method,  but  is  not  necessary  except  in  cold  districts  and 
on  heavy  soils.  As  the  Calandrinias  are  all  flowers  of  the 
sun  it  is  a  waste  of  time  to  attempt  their  culture  in  shady 
places  and  cold,  wet  positions. 


CALENDULA  21 

CALENDULA 

''Pot  Marigold** 

Old-fashioned  flowers  though  they  be,  the  Pot  Marigolds 
occupy  a  very  important  position  among  Hardy  Annuals 
because  there  are  few  flowers  so  easily  managed,  so  cheaply 
purchased,  or  so  brilliantly  effective  when  grown  in  large 
groups,  in  beds  or  borders.  In  the  garden  of  the  cottager 
or  the  artisan  they  bloom  as  freely  as  in  the  garden  of  the 
merchant  and  the  prince,  and  no  matter  what  kind  of  a 
season  it  may  be,  the  Marigolds  do  their  full  share  in  the 
adornment  of  the  garden. 

The  common  Pot  Marigold  is  Calendula  officinalis  {Com- 
positce),  a  native  of  Southern  Europe,  and  one  that  grows 
about  i|  foot  to  2  feet  high,  forming  a  bushy  plant  that  yields 
a  long  supply  of  flowers  2  to  3  inches  across,  and  these 
may  be  single,  semi-double,  or  double.  The  very  double 
sorts  are  neither  common  nor  beautiful,  but  the  varieties  with 
several  rows  of  ray  florets  are  the  most  useful  and  attractive. 
The  florists  have  rounded  the  flowers  and  broadened  the  ray 
florets,  as  well  as  produced  a  number  of  distinct  shades  of 
colour.  A  few  fixed  varieties  of  great  merit  are  Meteor,  orange- 
yellow,  striped  lemon-yellow  ;  Orange  King,  brilliant  orange, 
and  more  double  than  most;  Yellow  Queen,  golden-yellow; 
Prince  of  Orange,  orange,  with  pale  yellow  stripes ;  and 
Lemon  Queen,  soft  lemon-yellow,  double.  Of  lesser  value 
but  still  worthy  of  cultivation  are  C.  arvensis,  2  feet,  yellow  ;  C. 
maderensis,  2  feet,  orange  ;  and  C.  cegyptica,  i  foot,  yellow. 

All  the  Calendulas  are  hardy,  and  in  the  case  of  C.  officinalis 
self-sown  seedlings  come  up  with  the  persistence  of  weeds. 
Sow  both  in  Spring  and  Autumn  where  the  plants  are  to 
flower  and  thin  the  seedlings  to  a  foot  apart  at  least.     The 


22       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

two  sowings  will  provide  for  a  long  season  of  bloom,  and 
early  and  severe  thinning  will  result  in  sturdy,  branching 
plants  that  will  give  fine  flowers  in  abundance. 


CALLISTEPHUS 

"  China  Aster" 

Botanists  will  tell  us  that  the  true  Asters  are  perennial  plants 
familiarly  known  as  Michaelmas  Daisies,  and  the  Annuals  popu- 
larly known  by  the  general  title  of  Asters  {Composiia)  are  really 
garden-raised  varieties  of  the  Chinese  species  Callistephus  hor- 
tensis  (syn.  C.  chifiensis,  C.  sinensis,  and  Callistemma  hortensis). 
Because  the  wild  plant  is  a  native  of  China,  the  whole  family  of 
garden  varieties  comes  under  the  general  title  of  China  Asters, 
and  so,  because  the  French  and  German  florists  have  developed 
the  flower  and  produced  a  considerable  number  of  races, 
alternative  titles  are  German  Asters  and  French  Asters. 

Almost  all  colours  except  bright  scarlet,  vermilion,  and 
yellow  are  represented  in  these  showy  and  exceedingly 
useful  flowers,  but  there  are  bright  red  shades  that  pass  as 
scarlet,  and  a  deep  cream  shade  also  passes  for  yellow  in 
catalogue  descriptions.  Asters  vary  in  height  from  about 
8  inches  in  the  Dwarf  Bouquet  section,  up  to  3  feet 
in  the  French  Giant,  Mammoth,  and  American  Branching 
strains. 

In  the  matter  of  form  there  is  a  wide  and  pleasing  varia- 
tion :  Paeony  -  flowered  varieties  have  incurving  florets. 
Comet  Asters  have  broad  florets  but  are  of  elegant  form 
and  fine  habit.  Victoria  Asters  have  very  double,  solid 
blooms,  the  florets  imbricating  regularly  in  the  best  strains. 
Ostrich  Plume  varieties  are  exquisitely  beautiful,  and  their 
large,  elegant  blooms  vie  with  the  Japanese  Chrysanthemums 
for  size  and  usefulness.     Quilled  Asters  have  tubular  florets 


CALLISTEPHUS  23 

and  find  most  favour  with  exhibitors,  especially  in  the  North 
of  England  and  in  the  South  of  Scotland.  In  the  Ray  Asters 
the  florets  stand  out  stiffly,  but  not  inelegantly,  and  the 
flowers  are  long  lived  and  stand  bad  weather  well.  Chrys- 
anthemum-flowered Asters  are  very  free  flowering,  of  dwarf 
habit,  less  formal  than  the  Victoria  strain,  and  fine  for  bedding. 
Single  Asters  are  a  modern  race  that  have  won  general 
esteem  owing  to  the  demand  for  light,  long-stemmed  flowers 
suitable  for  cutting  as  well  as  for  garden  effect ;  they  show  a 
vast  improvement  upon  the  wild  type  and  grow  to  a  height 
of  from  18  inches  to  2|  feet,  the  flowers  being  borne  on  stems 
from  12  inches  to  20  inches  long.  Few  flowers  are  so  useful 
in  the  late  Summer  and  early  Autumn  as  Asters,  and  the  most 
beautiful  Asters  are  the  Ostrich  Plume  and  Single  varieties. 

Asters  are  easily  grown.  So  common  is  the  practice  of 
raising  plants  in  a  warm  greenhouse,  on  a  half-spent  hot-bed 
or  in  a  cold  frame,  that  comparatively  few  people  know  that 
Asters  may  be  raised  easily  in  the  open  garden.  A  sheltered 
spot,  where  the  soil  is  fairly  light  and  rich,  should  be  selected, 
and  during  the  process  of  levelling  the  surface  and  making 
it  fine,  a  liberal  dressing  of  ashes  from  burnt  garden  rubbish 
should  be  worked  into  the  soil.  If  the  soil  is  heavy,  three- 
inch-deep  drills  filled  with  old  sifted  potting  mould  will 
provide  a  capital  seed  bed.  Thin  and  regular  sowing,  in 
lines  from  8  to  15  inches  apart,  will  ensure  strong  seedlings, 
but  the  seeds  must  not  be  sown  deeply,  the  merest  covering 
with  soil,  and  some  shade  until  germination  takes  place,  will 
suffice.     Early  April  is  a  good  time  for  sowing  out-of-doors. 

Steady  growth  from  the  earliest  seedling  stage  right  up  to 
the  time  of  flowering  must  be  the  aim  in  Aster  culture  ;  half  the 
failures  experienced  are  the  result  of  checks  due  to  excess  of 
water  at  the  roots,  or  semi-starvation  following  thick  sowing 
and  absence  of  early  thinning  and  transplanting.  It  is  usual  to 
sow  Asters   in   gentle   heat   early  in    March,  transplant  the 


24       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

seedlings  into  pans  or  boxes,  or  into  a  bed  of  soil  in  a 
warm  frame,  and  then  proceed  to  harden  them  off  as  soon 
as  they  become  re-established.  This  is  a  splendid  method, 
and  one  that  will  produce  large  plants  by  the  end  of  May  if 
followed  with  reasonable  care. 

In  this  connexion,  however,  two  difficulties  are  likely  to 
present  themselves.  The  first  is  the  difticulty  of  regulating 
the  temperature  nicely  in  the  early  stages  of  development: 
Asters  dislike  rapid  and  frequent  fluctuations  of  temperature, 
and  show  that  dislike  by  turning  yellow  or  dying  off  in  an 
apparently  unaccountable  manner  ;  no  greater  range  than 
from  55°  to  65°  should  be  permitted  while  the  seedlings  remain 
under  glass.  The  other  difficulty  arises  from  the  great 
pressure  of  work  experienced  in  most  gardens  at  the  end  of 
May  and  in  early  June.  Where  Pelargoniums  and  other 
tender  Summer  bedding  subjects  are  freely  used  they  usually 
get  first  consideration,  and  the  Annuals  wait  on  their 
convenience,  with  the  result  that  they  suffer  in  many 
ways.  If  Asters  are  thoroughly  hardened  off  they  might  with 
advantage  be  planted  out  in  their  flowering  quarters  before 
the  tender  plants,  as  then  they  would  keep  growing  steadily. 
A  goodly  measure  of  leaf-mould  added  to  the  compost  into 
which  Asters  are  first  transplanted  as  seedlings  will  prove 
beneficial,  because  the  roots  grip  the  particles  of  decaying 
leaves,  and  it  is  then  possible  to  remove  the  plants  with  a 
full  complement  of  roots  and  soil  when  the  time  to  plant 
out  arrives.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  sterilise  the  leaf  soil 
before  use,  as  it  often  contains  grubs  or  larvae  injurious 
to  the  roots. 

Whether  planted  in  beds  or  in  groups  in  the  border 
Asters  need  rich  soil  for  their  full  development,  but  the  use 
of  fresh  or  rank  manures  must  be  avoided. 

The  "  collar  "  of  an  Aster  plant,  ue.  the  junction  of  the 
root  and  stem  systems,  is  the  weakest  point,  and  any  damage 


PLATE   III 
COSMOS   BIPINNATUS 


CAMPANULA  27 

to  it,  brought  about  by  careless  handling,  careless  hoeing  or 
planting  so  that  they  stand  higher  in  the  soil  than  previously, 
will  result  in  losses.  The  application  of  small  quantities  of 
water  to  Asters  in  hot  weather  cannot  be  too  strongly  con- 
demned, as  it  causes  the  roots  to  come  to  the  surface,  where 
the  sun  soon  scorches  them. 


CAMPANULA 

'' Bell- Flower" 

Very  few  of  the  Bell-Flowers  {Campanulace(Z)  are  Annuals  ; 
indeed  most  members  of  the  genus  are  perennial,  although 
the  splendid  Canterbury  Bells  are  biennial.  The  Annual 
species,  however,  deserve  more  attention  than  they  receive, 
especially  at  the  hands  of  those  who  have  large  Rock 
gardens  under  their  care.  Three  species  are  worthy  of  con- 
sideration :  these  are  C.  drabaefolia  (syn.  C.  atttca),  C.  Loreyi, 
and  C.  macrostyla. 

Campanula  drabaefolia^  the  C.  atttca  of  the  seed  catalogues, 
is  a  charming  little  plant  about  4  inches  high,  and  if  it  is 
planted  so  that  the  individuals  meet,  the  result  is  a  low,  dense 
mass  or  carpet  of  rich  purple-blue  or  white  when  flowering 
time  comes.  Both  purple  and  white  forms  come  true,  and 
the  seeds  may  be  sown  either  in  Autumn  or  Spring.  It  is 
a  good  plan  to  sow  the  seeds  where  the  display  is  needed 
and  thin  the  plants  to  2  or  3  inches  apart.  C.  Loreyi  {syn. 
C.  rainosissimd)  is  about  i^  foot  high,  and  makes  a  capital 
border  plant,  good  alike  in  small  groups  or  in  masses ;  it  has 
violet-blue  flowers  of  great  i)eauty.  C.  macrostyla  is  a  striking 
plant,  of  rigid  habit,  bristly,  and  has  a  large  and  prominent 
stigma  in  each  rounded  flower.  The  flowers  are  blue,  but 
some  variation  in  shade  will  be  found  in  a  number  of  plants. 
This   species    will    not  succeed   if  sown   in  Autumn,  unless 


28       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

housed  in  a  frame  all  the  Winter,  and  it  is  best  sown  under 
cover  in  the  Spring  and  duly  planted  out  in  a  sunny  position. 


CENTAUREA 

"  Corn  Floivcr"  and  "  Sweet  Sultan  " 

The  somewhat  large  family  of  Ceiitaureas  {CoinpositcE)  con- 
tains a  number  of  good  garden  subjects,  and  a  few  of  these 
are  popular  Hardy  Annuals.  I  suppose  every  one  knows  the 
Cornflower  of  the  grain-fields,  and  most  people  with  an 
interest  in  gardening  know  the  elegant  Sweet  Sultans.  For 
their  value  as  cut  flowers  these  two  kinds  of  Annuals  are 
worthy  of  wide  popularity. 

Centaurca  Cyanus,  the  Common  Cornflower,  Bluet,  or 
Blue-bottle,  is  a  native  plant,  about  3  feet  high,  with  pretty, 
bright  blue  flowers.  This  has  been  taken  in  hand  by  the 
seedsmen  and  improved  in  habit  and  size  of  flower,  and 
altered  in  colour.  Pure  white,  deep  blue,  light  blue,  rose, 
and  also  double  varieties  are  now  offered  and  come  quite 
true,  consequently  they  are  dependable  for  certain  colour 
effects.  C.  Cyanus  minor  is  a  low-growing  type,  about  a 
foot  high,  and  there  are  blue  and  rose  coloured  varieties 
of  it  known  respectively  as  Victoria  Blue  and  Victoria 
Rose. 

Tiie  Cornflowers  are  largely  grown  for  market,  and  for 
this  purpose  are  usually  sown  in  Autumn  in  drills,  and 
lightly  thinned  in  due  course.  The  flowers  are  picked  early 
the  following  Summer,  with  long  stems,  and  sold  in  close 
bunches,  and  few  flowers  are  sold  so  cheaply.  For  garden 
purposes  two  or  more  sowings  may  be  necessary,  and  in 
any  good,  well-worked  garden  soil  they  may  be  sown  in 
September,  and  thinned  out  a  foot  or  so  apart  when  the 
seedlings   are   of   fair    size.     Another   sowing   in    March    or 


CENTAUREA  29 

April,  where  the  plants  are  to  flower,  will  give  a  succession 
to  the  Autumn  raised  plants.  If  a  sowing  is  made  in  Spring 
under  glass,  some  care  must  be  taken  at  the  time  of  trans- 
planting, as  the  Cornflowers  do  not  take  kindly  to  root 
disturbance. 

The  Sweet  Sultans  are  very  beautiful,  and  they  have  been 
improved  greatly  during  recent  years  by  Messrs.  Jarman 
and  Co.  of  Chard  and  other  cultivators.  The  older  type 
gives  flowers  a  couple  of  inches  across,  and  these  may 
be  rose,  yellow,  or  white,  and  in  each  case  they  are 
sweetly  scented.  The  height  is  about  i|  foot.  The  newer 
forms  are  sometimes  stated  to  have  been  raised  from 
C^titaurea  suaveolens,  but  this  is  a  doubtful  species,  and  the 
probability  is  that  they  have  all  been  evolved  from  C. 
moschata.  These  newer  forms,  with  flowers  3  inches  broad, 
are  listed  as  Bridesmaid,  pale  lemon-yellow ;  Honeymoon, 
bright  yellow  with  golden  centre ;  The  Bride,  pure  white  ; 
and  The  Bridegroom,  rosy-pink  with  whitish  centre.  All 
these  grow  3  feet  high  under  suitable  conditions. 

For  several  years  I  could  not  grow  a  Sweet  Sultan  worth 
looking  at,  but  after  raising  seedlings  in  a  frame  and  trans- 
ferring them  singly  to  small  pots  as  soon  as  possible,  and 
planting  them  out  in  May  in  soil  well  limed  some  time 
previously,  I  was  very  successful.  Certainly  these  Giant 
Sweet  Sultans  are  splendid  garden  flowers,  and  they  may 
be  successfully  managed  from  an  autumn  sowing  in  light 
soil  where  lime  or  chalk  are  present  in  some  quantity  ;  such 
a  sowing  should  be  made  where  the  plants  are  to  flower, 
and  beyond  thinning,  weeding,  and  the  use  of  a  few  twiggy 
sticks  to  support  them  and  prevent  damage  by  wind,  they 
will  need  little  attention.  Where  cut  flowers  are  greatly 
in  demand  an  autumn  sowing  ought  to  be  made  in  the  re- 
serve garden. 

Centaurea  depressa   is  very  like   C.   Cyanus,   but  of  lower 


30        PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

growth,  and  it  has  rich  Gentian-blue  flowers :  The  Queen 
is  a  fine  selection.  C-  mnericmia  is  a  strong  growing  Hardy 
Annual  from  North  America  ;  it  reaches  a  height  of  3  feet, 
and  has  reddish  flower-heads. 


CHRYSANTHEMUM 
"  Crown  Daisy  "  and  "  Corn  Marigold" 

It  is  hardly  possible  to  over  appreciate  the  group  of  hardy 
Annual  Chrysanthemums  {Covipositce),  as  they  possess  state- 
liness,  beauty,  usefulness,  and  a  brilliant  effectiveness  not 
easily  surpassed.  Three  species  have  been  pressed  into 
service  to  provide  us  with  these  splendid  flowers,  and  they 
are  C.  carinatnvi  (syn.  C.  tricolor^  C.  coronnrium,  and  C.  scgetum 
— the  last  named  a  wild  plant  especially  common  in  the 
Eastern  counties,  and  well  known  as  the  Corn  Marigold. 
The  garden  varieties  of  C.  carinatuui  grow  from  ij  foot  to 
7.\  feet  high,  and  may  be  3  feet  high  if  the  conditions  are 
favourable.  The  double  varieties  of  C.  coronarium  and  C. 
Dunnettii  are  of  lowlier  growth,  and  may  be  had  in  white, 
yellow,  and  crimson.  C.  segefuvt,  2\  feet  high,  and  its  variety 
C.  s.  grandiflorum^  are  bright  yellow,  while  Little  Gem  is 
about  8  inches  high,  and  makes  a  pretty,  yellow-flowered 
bush. 

Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons  have  introduced  some  exquisitely 
beautiful  varieties  of  C.  carinatum,  namely,  Morning  Star,  soft 
primrose  yellow  ;  Eastern  Star,  yellow,  with  brown  centre ; 
Evening  Star,  deep  golden-yellow  ;  and  Northern  Star,  white 
with  yellow  centre  and  maroon  disk.  Other  good  varieties 
are  Burridgeanum,  crimson,  white,  and  yellow  ;  W.  E.  Glad- 
stone, crimson  ;  and  Silver  Queen,  white,  with  yellow  zone 
and  silvery  disk. 

In    most  gardens    these    annual   Chrysanthemums  might 


CLARKIA  31 

be  advantageously  sown  out-of-doors  late  in  August,  and 
if  the  seedlings  are  placed,  as  soon  as  large  enough  to 
transplant,  where  they  are  to  flower,  the  result  will  be 
large  specimens  to  bloom  early  the  following  season.  In 
April  seeds  may  be  sown  in  groups  in  the  border,  and 
the  seedlings  eventually  thinned  to  18  inches  apart;  it 
is  advisable  to  provide  each  plant  wuth  a  slender  bamboo 
stick  as  a  support  against  wind  and  heavy  rains.  Another 
method  of  procedure  is  to  sow  in  March  in  a  warm  green- 
house, prick  out  the  seedlings  into  boxes,  harden  off,  and 
plant  them  out  at  the  end  of  May. 

CLARKIA 

Clarkias  {OnagracecE)  have  been  much  improved  in  recent 
years,  and  now  the  double  sorts  are  extremely  beautiful,  and 
valuable  alike  for  beds,  borders,  and  for  pot  culture.  Visitors 
to  the  Spring  and  early  Summer  exhibitions  cannot  fail  to 
have  seen  the  delightful  plants  of  these  improved  double 
varieties  exhibited  in  pots  by  the  nurserymen.  Such  plants 
are  easily  produced  if  seeds  are  sown  in  August  and  the 
plants  are  treated  hardily,  frame  shelter  being  given  them 
during  the  Winter  and  greenhouse  protection  in  the  very 
early  Spring.  For  the  decoration  of  the  Conservatory  in 
May  and  June  they  never  fail  to  give  pleasure. 

Clarkias  are  Hardy  Annuals,  and  may  be  sown  out-of- 
doors  in  September,  to  flower  early  the  following  season  ; 
or  on  light  soil  in  March  or  April  for  flowering  later  ;  or  in 
gentle  heat  in  March  to  provide  large  plants  to  flower 
in  the  fulness  of  Summer  time.  Strong  plants  put  out  in 
May,  not  less  than  a  foot  apart,  will  graw  2\  feet  high,  and 
produce  an  abundance  of  dainty  blooms  on  spike-like 
branches. 

Two    species   give   us   the   majority    of    the    varieties    so 


32        PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

largely  grown.  These  are  C.  elegans  and  C.  pulchella.  The 
former  species  comes  from  California  and  the  latter  from 
Oregon.  In  C.  elegans  the  lobes  of  the  flower  are  entire,  while 
in  C.  pulchella  these  are  more  or  less  lobed.  The  varieties  of 
C.  elegans  are  the  most  beautiful,  and  the  leading  sorts  are 
Double  Pink,  Double  Salmon,  Snowball,  double  white ; 
Firefly,  double  scarlet-crimson  ;  Scarlet  Beauty,  scarlet ; 
and  Purple  King,  purplish-carmine.  Of  C.  pulchella  there 
are  white,  rose,  and  carmine  shades,  bdth  double  and  single. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  Clarkias  are  particularly 
valuable  for  cutting,  their  elegance  and  Ix-auty  when  arranged 
on  a  dining  or  sitting-room  table  being  always  appreciated. 


COLLINSIA 
"  Collins    Flower  " 

These  Hardy  Annuals  (Scrophulariacecg)  have  the  merit 
of  being  good  town  plants.  They  grow  about  a  foot  high, 
and  produce  their  double-lipped  flowers  in  whorls  along  the 
greater  part  of  their  growth.  The  most  popular  species  is 
C.  bicolor,  white  and  lilac-purple ;  and  C.  b.  candidissimay 
wholly  white,  and  a  little  dwarfer  than  the  type.  Other 
species  worthy  of  trial  are  C.  bartsiaefolia,  of  which  there  is 
a  white  and  a  purple  variety  ;  C.  corymbosa,  white  and  blue ; 
C.  grandifiora,  purplish-blue ;  C.  parvifiora,  a  trailer,  with 
purple  and  blue  flowers  ;  C.  sparsiflora,  violet ;  C.  iinctoria, 
pink;  C.  verna,  purple  and  blue,  very  pretty;  and  C.  violacea 
violet  and  white. 

It  is  a  good  plan  to  make  both  an  Autumn  and  a  Spring 
sowing  of  Collinsias,  so  as  to  prolong  the  flowering  season. 
C.  verna  flowers  in  Spring  and  should  be  sown  in  Autumn. 


CONVOLVULUS  33 

CONVOLVULUS 

^^  Bindweed" 

Although  the  varieties  of  Convolvulus  tricolor  (syn.  C.  mifzor) 
are  useful  and  popular  Hardy  Annuals  {ConvolvtilacecB)  they  are 
not  so  extensively  grown  in  large  gardens  as  formerly,  but  in 
town  and  suburban  gardens  and  in  the  gardens  of  the  children 
they  are  as  popular  as  ever.  Rarely  exceeding  a  foot  in  height, 
they  make  rounded  mounds  of  neat  foliage  and  bright  flowers, 
and  if  the  latter  are  not  long  lived,  there  is  a  quick  succession 
of  them  right  through  the  Summer.  Sunshine  they  delight 
in,  and  poor  soil  suits  them  better  than  rich  mould.  The 
varieties  are  numerous  ;  they  may  be  white,  blue  and  white 
with  yellow  bands,  white  and  violet  with  yellow  stripes,  dark 
blue,  sky  blue,  or  pink. 

Sow  in  Autumn  and  again  in  the  Spring  out-of-doors, 
and  thin  to  6  or  8  inches  apart ;  or  sow  the  seeds  in  boxes, 
in  Spring,  in  gentle  heat,  placing  them  2  inches  apart. 
Harden  off  the  seedlings  and  plant  out  in  April  or  May.  The 
climbing  Annual  we  generally  call  Convolvulus  major  is  an 
Ipomaea. 

COREOPSIS 

"  Tick  Seed" 

The  Coreopsis  are  first-rate  border  plants,  and  their  flowers 
possess  great  value  for  filling  the  vases  indoors.  They  mostly 
come  from  the  Northern  or  Central  part  of  America,  and  they 
possess  grace  and  brilliance  scarcely  surpassed  by  any  other 
subjects  dealt  with  in  this  work,  whilst  their  freedom  of  flower- 
ing is  unexcelled. 

Two  species,  with  their  numerous  colour  variations,  give 
us  most  of  the  Annual  Coreopsis  {Composites)  used  in  gardens, 
and  these  are  C.  Drummondii  and  C.  tinctoria.    C.  Drummondii 

C 


34       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

is  about  i|  foot  high,  and  its  flowers  are  yellow,  with  a  ring  of 
crimson  round  the  disk.  C.  tinctoria  (syn.  C.  bicolor)  grows 
from  2  feet  to  3  feet  high,  and  its  bright  brown  and  yellow 
colouring  makes  it  very  attractive.  In  the  hands  of  the  seeds- 
men this  has  given  both  rounded  and  stellate  flowers,  and  a 
range  of  colour  from  pale  yellow  to  deep  chestnut-red  or 
maroon.  A  fine  dwarf  strain  has  also  been  secured  and  is 
first  rate  for  bedding,  as  the  plants  grow  only  from  7  to  I2 
inches  high  and  form  compact,  bushy  specimens  ;  Golden  Ray, 
gold  and  brown  ;  Beauty,  yellow  and  crimson  ;  and  Crimson 
King,  dark  crimson,  are  all  good  varieties  in  this  dwarf  or 
"  Tom  Thumb  "  section.  Some  of  the  newer  dwarf  Coreopsis 
have  the  margins  of  their  ray  florets  recurved,  and  so  they 
have  gained  the  descriptive  title  of  "Cactus-flowered." 

Other  species  of  some  note  are  C.  aristosa,  3  feet,  orange- 
yellow ;  C.  Atkinsofiiana,  3  feet,  deep  yellow  with  brown 
centre  ;  C.  carJaininafolia,  2  feet,  yellow  and  brown-purple ; 
C.  Burridgci,  3  feet,  crimson  and  yellow  ;  and  C.  coronata,  i\ 
foot,  orange  and  crimson. 

Coreopsis  is  easily  managed  by  sowing  seeds  thinly  in 
shallow  drills  in  March,  and  transferring  the  plants  to  their 
flowering  positions  when  about  3  inches  high.  They  also  do 
well  when  sown  in  September,  in  light  soil,  and  transplanted 
to  rich  soil  in  the  early  Spring  ;  so  treated  they  come  into 
flower  earlier  than  those  sown  in  Spring.  They  also  lend 
themselves  to  treatment  as  Half-hardy  Annuals,  and  do  very 
well  raised  in  gentle  heat  in  March  and  pricked  off  as  early  as 
they  become  fit  to  be  handled. 

COSMOS 

'* Mexican  Aster" — ''Feathery  Cosmea" 

Each  year  the  graceful  Mexican  Aster,  Cosmos  bipinnatus 
{Co)nposit(e),  becomes  increasingly  popular.    The  newer  strains 


CUPHEA  35 

have  elegant  foliage  as  well  as  fine  Dahlia-like  flowers  to 
recommend  them  (see  Plate  III).  They  must  be  raised 
in  March,  in  a  temperature  of  about  65°,  potted  singly  as  soon 
as  large  enough,  and  planted  out  at  the  end  of  May  or  early 
in  June,  after  being  properly  hardened  off.  Unless  so  treated 
they  do  not  flower  sufficiently  early  to  be  effective.  For 
borders  or  for  large  beds  they  are  capital  subjects,  and  they 
are  charming  as  cut  flowers. 

The  older  forms  grow  3I  feet  high,  but  the  newer  varieties 
are  3  feet  to  6  feet  high.  Crimson  King,  Rose  Queen,  and 
White  Queen  are  descriptive  names ;  Early  Dawn  is  white 
and  pink.  C.  sulphureus,  \\  foot  to  2  feet,  light  yellow  ;  and 
C.  tenuifoliusy  2  feet,  purple,  are  other  species. 


CUPHEA 

*'  Mexican  Cigar  Flower  " 

Chiefly  natives  of  Mexico,  there  are  a  few  species  of 
Cuphea  {Lythracece)  useful  in  beds  and  borders,  but  they  all 
need  a  sunny  position  and  rather  poor  soil.  They  should  be 
treated  as  Half-hardy  Annuals,  though  a  few  are  doubtfully 
hardy.  They  make  pleasing,  bushy  plants  with  pendulous 
flowers.  The  best  annual  kinds  are  C.  cequipetala  (syn.  C. 
ocimoides),  2  feet,  purple ;  C.  lanceolata  (syn.  C.  silenoides),  i\ 
foot,  purplish-blue  ;  and  C.  Zimapatiii,  2  feet,  dark  purple. 

DATURA 

'<  Thorn  Apple  " 

Of  bold,  strong  growth,  and  carrying  large  trumpet-shaped 
flowers,  the  annual  Daturas  {Solanacece)  are  fine  for  sub- 
tropical  gardening,  for  border  groups,  or   for   pot   culture. 


36        PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

They  are  half-hardy,  and  the  seeds  should  be  sown  in 
moderate  heat  in  March,  and  the  seedlings  potted  off  singly 
as  soon  as  large  enough,  gradually  hardening  them  ready 
for  planting  in  a  sunny  place  in  early  June.  They  vary  a 
little  in  height,  but  are  generally  about  3  feet. 

Annual  species,  or  species  that  may  be  treated  as  Annuals, 
are  D.  ceratocaula,  3  feet,  white,  shaded  with  purple,  sweetly 
scented  ;  D.chlorantha  fl.  pL,  yellow,  double,  fragrant  (Golden 
Queen  is  probably  a  selected  form  of  this  species)  ;  D.fastuosa, 
2h  feet,  white  interior,  violet  exterior  ;  D.  Metel,  i\  feet,  white, 
fragrant,  a  fine  plant ;  D.  niuricata,  2\  feet,  white  ;  D.  querci- 
folia,  2  feet,  violet  shaded  ;  D.  Stramoniuvi,  2  feet,  white,  a 
native  plant,  but  of  little  garden  value  ;  D.  Tatula,  2\  feet, 
violet ;  and  D.  T.  gigantea,  a  giant  form  of  the  latter.  A  strain 
offered  under  the  name  of  D.  Ihtberiana  produces  beautiful 
duplex  flowers  in  several  shades  of  colour. 


DELPHINIUM 

*'  Larkspur  " 

The  Larkspurs  {Ranuncu/acecB)  are  old  time  favourites,  and 
the  annual  species  or  their  garden  varieties  are  among  the 
most  popular  of  flowers.  They  are  hardy,  free  flowering, 
stately  and  elegant,  and  the  flowers  exhibit  a  considerable 
range  of  colours.  Practically  every  colour  produced  is 
represented  by  double  and  single  forms,  and  by  tall  and 
dwarf  strains,  these  latter  being  respectively  about  3  feet  and 
I  foot  high.  The  florists  have  altered  the  form  of  the  flower 
somewhat,  as  well  as  of  the  spike,  so  that  we  have  now 
what  are  called  Stock -flowered.  Hyacinth -flowered,  and 
Emperor  strains  :  the  Emperor  strain  is  of  sturdy  growth  and 
erect  bushy  habit,  and  flowers  a  little  later  than  the  Stock- 
flowered   sorts.      Emperor  Larkspurs    probably   come  from 


DIANTHUS  37 

D.  consolida  and  not  from  D.  Ajacis.  All  are  fine  for  beds 
or  borders  and  look  splendid  in  large  groups,  the  several 
strains  being  associated  so  as  to  secure  a  long  flowering 
season.  The  colour  range  is  from  white  to  intense  purple, 
some  of  the  rosy  and  carmine  shades  being  especially 
attractive. 

The  species  of  most  value  are  D.  Ajacis^  \\  foot,  blue,  a 
native  plant,  and  the  progenitor  of  most  of  our  garden 
Larkspurs ;  D.  cardiopetalum,  i  foot,  violet -blue ;  and  D. 
consolida,  i|  foot,  flowers  blue,  produced  in  a  lax  spike. 

Autumn  sowing  is  in  most  cases  the  best  means  of  raising 
a  fine  stock  of  plants  that  will  flower  vigorously  the 
following  Summer,  but  all  the  Larkspurs  are  easily  raised 
from  a  March  or  April  sowing,  made  either  in  the  open,  or 
in  boxes  in  gentle  heat.  Blue  Butterfly  is  not,  strictly,  an 
Annual,  but  it  is  a  very  useful  plant,  and  will  flower  well  the 
same  season  if  raised  in  heat  in  March.  This  Larkspur  was 
brought  into  prominence  a  few  years  ago  by  Messrs.  J.  Carter 
and  Co.,  of  Raynes  Park ;  it  is  about  i^  foot  high,  and  has 
spikes  of  large,  light-blue  flowers. 


DIANTHUS 

"  Chinese,''  ^^  Japanese  "  and  "  Indian  "  Pinks 

Although  Dianthus  chinensis  {Caryophyllacem)  is  a  Biennial, 
the  varietal  or  hybrid  form  so  well  known  as  D.  Heddewigii 
(see  Plate  IV)  is  to  all  intents  and  purposes  an  Annual, 
and  is  so  listed  in  some  seed  catalogues.  This  species  is 
illustrated  in  this  work  because  of  the  rich  beauty  of  its 
flowers,  and  also  because  it  serves  to  indicate  the  difficulty 
that  exists  in  some  cases  in  determining  what  is  an  Annual 
and  what  a  Biennial.  For  many  years  the  seedsmen  have 
selected  and  re-selected  D.  Heddewigii  for   the  purpose  of 


38       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

inducing  it  to  flower  early  from  seeds,  and  also  for  the 
purpose  of  increasing  its  floriferousness,  the  size  of  its 
flowers,  and  the  colour  variation.  The  result  is  that  we 
have  a  race  of  plants  which  produce  beautiful  flowers  and 
more  nearly  of  Annual  than  Biennial  duration.  An  effort 
has  been  made  in  this  work  to  keep  pure  Annuals  together 
and  not  confuse  them  with  Biennials  that  readily  submit  to 
cuitiv.ition  as  Annuals,  but  the  effort  fails  in  the  case  of 
Dinnthus  chinensis  var.  Heddewigii. 

In  Dianthuscs  we  have  a  charming  group  of  garden  flowers, 
which  rarely  exceed  i  foot  in  height,  and  range  in  colour 
from  white  to  blood-red  crimson.  They  arc  variously  known 
as  Japanese  or  Indian  Pinks,  and  the  taller  sorts  as  Koyal 
Pinks.  Of  the  single  varieties,  with  shapely,  broad-petalled 
flowers.  Crimson  Bell,  blood-red  ;  Empress,  crimson  and 
rose  ;  and  Eastern  Queen,  red,  rose,  and  pink,  are  good. 
Among  single,  fringed  varieties,  a  few  of  outstanding  merit 
are  Salmon  Queen,  salmon-rose  ;  Vesuvius,  orange-salmon  ; 
Scarlet  Queen,  scarlet  ;  and  The  Bride,  white.  Double  or 
Diadem  varieties  include  such  delightful  sorts  as  The  Mikado, 
finely  fringed,  colours  various ;  Aurora,  salmon-scarlet  ; 
Mourning  Cloak,  dark  crimson  ;  Purity,  white  ;  and  Snowdrift, 
fringed  white. 

By  far  the  best  way  to  manage  Indian  Pinks  is  to  raise 
them  in  gentle  heat  in  March,  prick  the  seedlings  into  boxes 
early,  and  transplant  them  to  beds  or  borders,  or  the  Rock 
garden,  at  the  end  of  May  or  early  in  June.  Thus  treated 
they  will  flower  splendidly  in  Summer  and  Autumn.  They 
may  be  sown  in  Autumn,  wintered  in  a  cold  frame,  and 
planted  out  in  May,  while  under  favourable  conditions  a 
sowing  out-of-doors  in  April  produces  plants  that  will 
flower  tlie  same  year.  Spring-sown  plants  will  sometimes 
survive  the  Winter  and  flower  the  following  year,  but  I  have 
never  had  one  do  so.     The  Indian  or  Japanese  Pinks  love  a 


DIASCIA  39 

sunny  position  and  lime  or  chalk  in  the  soil,  and  the  lack  of 
lime  is  sometimes  the  cause  of  poor  growth  and  few  flowers. 

The  Grenadin,  Margarita,  Riviera  Market,  and  other  strains 
of  early  and  quick  flowering  carnations  are  often  referred  to 
as  annual  Carnations,  but  they  are  perennial,  though  they 
usually  fail  after  a  couple  of  years.  These  flower  well  the 
same  year,  from  seeds  sown  in  heat  in  February  or  March, 
the  resulting  plants  being  hardened  and  finally  planted  out, 
or  potted,  in  May.  It  is  generally  agreed  that  these  strains 
are  the  result  of  crossing  D,  chinensis  with  D.  Caryophyllus — 
the  parent  of  present-day  Carnations. 

Dianthus  Armeria,  the  Deptford  Pink,  is  a  native,  red- 
flowered  Annual,  rarely  grown,  but  very  pretty. 

DIASCIA 

A  South  African,  Half-hardy  Annual  that  enjoys  a  fair  share 
of  popularity  is  Diascia  Barberce  {ScrophulariacecB),  a  pretty 
plant  growing  i  foot  high  and  producing  spurred,  large-lipped 
flowers  of  a  pleasing  and  effective  shade  of  chamois-pink. 
This  is  said  to  have  survived  a  Winter  and  flowered  the  second 
year  in  some  places,  and  one  authority  states  that  "  in  warm 
localities  it  is  a  perennial."  The  late  George  Nicholson 
classed  it  as  an  Annual,  and  most  people  will  be  satisfied  with 
that  classification,  a  few  exceptions  notwithstanding.  Diascia 
Barberce  should  be  raised  in  heat  in  March  or  April,  or  be 
sown  out-of-doors  in  the  latter  month  in  warm,  rich  soil.  A 
warm,  sunny  position  suits  it  well ;  it  is  also  adapted  for 
culture  in  pots. 

DIMORPHOTHECA 

"  Cape  Daisy  " 

Among  the  newer  Annuals,  the  Dimorphothecas  {Composite) 
take  a  very  prominent  position  ;  they  are  of  easy  culture,  and 


40       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

suitable  either  for  borders  of  rich  soil  or  the  Rock  garden.  We 
are  indebted  to  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons  for  introducing  the 
handsome  D.  aurantiaca  to  public  notice.  It  is  the  Namaqua- 
land  Daisy,  grows  about  9  inches  high,  and  produces  its 
bright,  orange-coloured  flowers  freely,  these  opening  fully  in 
bright  sunshine  and  showing  the  black  ring  around  the  disc. 
It  is  a  Half-hardy  Annual,  and  never  looks  better  than  when 
placed  in  a  sunny  spot  in  the  Rock  garden.  Raised  in  a  little 
heat  in  March  or  April,  it  is  easily  managed  if  the  seedlings 
are  put  singly  into  small  pots  at  an  early  date.  Some 
Continental  raisers  have  endeavoured  to  raise  a  hybrid 
race  of  Dimorphothecas,  and  the  Messrs.  Barr  have  now 
offered  hybrids  raised  by  crossing  D.  aurantiaca  with  the 
older,  white-flowered  D.  pluvialis.  In  these  hybrids  the  good 
qualities  of  the  first-named  parent  have  been  preserved,  and 
possibly  improved  upon  slightly,  but  what  is  of  chief  import- 
ance is  that  the  new  race  gives  a  range  of  colouring  from 
white  to  deepest  orange,  the  apricot,  pink,  and  yellowish 
shades  being  very  pretty.  These  varieties  cannot  fail  to 
further  increase  the  popularity  of  Dimorphothecas. 

D.  pluvialis  is  a  useful  plant,  nearly  2  feet  high,  and 
though  it  is  usually  best  managed  as  a  Half-hardy  Annual, 
it  is  hardy,  and  proves  very  effective  when  well  cared  for 
and  planted  in  groups  in  the  border.  Early  thinning  and 
transplanting  are  of  importance  with  this  plant.  The  flowers 
are  over  2  inches  across,  white,  with  golden  centre,  and  with 
purplish-maroon  colouring  on  the  back  of  the  ray  florets. 

EMILIA 

"  Tassel  Flower  " 

Emilia  flammea  is  better  known  by  the  name  of  Cacalia 
coccinea,  and  as  such  it  is  generally  catalogued  by  seedsmen. 
It  is  a  Composite,  growing   i^  foot  high,  and  flowering  freely 


PLATE    IV 
DIANTHUS   CHINENSIS,   Var.    HEDDEWIGII 


ERYSIMUM  43 

in  the  Summer  and  Autumn.  The  flowers  are  not  very  effec- 
tive individually,  but  they  are  bright  orange-scarlet  and  borne 
in  clusters  like  a  bunch  of  tassels,  this  style  of  inflorescence 
giving  rise  to  the  popular  name  of  Tassel  Flower.  Emilia 
flammea  is  quite  hardy,  and  may  be  sown  out-of-doors  in 
early  September  to  stand  through  the  Winter  and  flower 
early  in  the  following  Summer.  It  is  usual,  however,  to  sow 
seeds  in  April  and  transplant  the  seedlings  to  their  flowering 
quarters  as  soon  as  they  are  large  enough  to  be  easily  handled. 
Another  method  is  to  sow  in  gentle  heat  in  April,  harden  off 
the  seedlings  in  the  usual  way,  and  plant  them  out  in  May  or 
early  June.  It  must  be  remembered  that  this  useful  plant — 
useful  especially  for  association  with  other  flowers  in  various 
kinds  of  floral  decorations — does  not  take  kindly  to  root  dis- 
turbance, consequently  leaf  soil  should  be  freely  used  in  the 
seed  bed. 

ERYSIMUM 

^^  Hedge  Mustard" 

Very  useful  little  plants  are  the  Hardy  Annual  Erysimums 
{CrucifercE).  There  are  two  species  that  interest  us  in  this 
connexion,  and  they  are  E.  arkansanum  and  E.  Perofskianum. 
The  former  is  i  foot  high  and  has  yellow  flowers,  while  the 
second  has  orange-coloured  flowers  and  is  from  i  foot  to  \\ 
foot  high.  Both  plants  are  suitable  for  bedding,  and  E.  Perof- 
skianum is  particularly  good  for  Spring  displays  or  for  the  Rock 
garden.  Seeds  may  be  sown  in  Autumn  and  again  in  Spring 
to  secure  a  long  flowering  season,  but  in  most  gardens  they 
seed  freely,  and  self-sown  plants  are  abundant.  It  would 
appear,  however,  that  in  the  colder  northern  districts  E. 
arkansanum  is  practically  a  biennial.  The  Erysimums,  or 
Hedge  Mustards,  are  very  like  the  Wallflowers  in  leafage, 
habit,  and  flowers,  but  the  latter  are  smaller  and  produced  in 
shorter  spikes. 


44        PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

ESCHSCHOLZIA 

"  Califoniian  Poppy  " 

Most  of  us  have  tripped  sometime  or  other  over  the 
spelling  of  Eschscholzia,  but  the  mistake  has  served  to  keep 
the  plant  in  mind.  The  garden  forms  of  E.  californica  {Papa- 
veracece)  have  the  most  brilliant  orange-coloured  flowers  the 
mind  can  picture,  and  in  full  sunshine  abed  of  Eschscholzias 
is  a  ravishing  sight  indeed.  The  plants  grow  about  i 
foot  high  and  are  perfectly  hardy.  It  is  an  excellent  plan 
to  make  a  sowing  in  the  Autumn  and  thin  the  seedlings  to 
9  inches  apart,  and  then  the  plants  will  come  into  bloom 
early  the  following  Summer.  In  addition  to  large  and  bright 
flowers  the  Eschscholzias  have  finely  divided  and  very 
elegant  foliage. 

E.  californica  and  its  varieties  have  produced  some 
beautiful  shades  of  colour  in  garden  varieties.  A  few  of 
the  best  are  Alba,  creamy-white  ;  Diana,  primrose  and  rose; 
Golden  West,  yellow,  with  orange  blotch ;  Frilled  Pink, 
pink ;  Orange  Queen,  orange  and  yellow ;  Mandarin, 
orange-scarlet  and  gold,  a  grand  variety  ;  Mikado,  orange- 
crimson  ;  Rose  Cardinal,  deep  rose ;  and  Ruby  King, 
deep  ruby-red.  E.  californica  itself  has  yellow,  orange- 
centred  flowers. 

While  Autumn  sowing  is  desirable  whenever  it  can  be 
managed,  Eschscholzias  can  be  sown  successfully  in  the 
open  in  March  or  April,  to  flower  the  same  year  ;  but  a  warm 
sunny  position  should  always  be  selected,  as  only  in  the  sun- 
shine do  they  do  themselves  full  justice. 

It  may  be  added  that  the  genus  is  often  listed  as  Esch- 
schol/zia,  but  there  is  no  authority  for  the  addition  of  the 
letter  "  t  "  in  the  title. 


GAILLARDIA  45 


GAILLARDIA 

"  Blanket  Flower  " 

In  localities  where  some  difficulty  is  experienced  in  keep- 
ing the  perennial  Gaillardias  {Compositce)  safely  through  our 
damp  winters  the  annual  species  have  the  greater  value,  for 
their  large  and  brilliant  flowers  are  peculiarly  useful  for 
cutting,  and  the  plants  are  first-rate  subjects  either  for  beds 
or  borders.  The  flowering  season  is  a  long  one,  the  long- 
stemmed  flowers  following  each  other  in  rapid  succes- 
sion. Although  the  Annual  Gaillardias  may  be  raised  out- 
of-doors  from  a  sowing  made  in  July,  there  is  a  great  risk  of 
losing  the  plants  during  Winter,  even  though  they  are  planted 
out  in  September.  The  protection  afforded  by  the  tops  of 
dead  stems  of  Michaelmas  Daisies  will  assist  the  plants  to 
withstand  wet  and  cold,  but  even  then  there  are  sure  to  be 
losses.  The  better  plan  is  to  sow  seeds  in  a  warm  greenhouse 
in  February  or  early  March,  prick  off  the  seedlings  into  boxes 
of  rich  soil  as  soon  as  possible,  duly  harden  them  in  a  cold 
frame,  and  plant  out  at  the  end  of  May  or  early  in  June, 
according  to  climate  and  season. 

The  annual  species  of  Gaillardia  are  G.  amblyodon,  2 
feet,  vivid  crimson  ;  and  G.  pulchella  (syn.  G.  bicolor),  2  feet 
to  3  feet,  crimson  and  yellow.  Of  the  latter  there  are  several 
natural  and  many  garden  varieties.  G.  p.  picta  is  crimson 
with  gold  tips,  and  is  often  catalogued  as  G.  Drummondii ; 
G.  p.  coccinea  is  dark  crimson  and  gold  ;  and  Lorenziana  is 
a  form  with  quilled  florets  and  rounded,  double  heads,  in 
various  shades  of  deep  red  and  yellow. 


46       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 


GILIA 

The  prominence  given  at  recent  exhibitions  to  the  biennial 
Gilia  cononopifolia  {Polcmoniacece)  will  probably  have  the  effect 
of  bringing  the  annual  species  into  notice.  These  latter  are 
hardy,  but  sometimes  the  Autumn-raised  seedlings  are  severely 
thinned  by  our  damp  and  cold  winters  unless  protected, 
though  on  light  warm  soils  the  losses  are  few.  Where  the 
Gilias  are  appreciated,  and  especially  where  bees  are  kept,  a 
sowing  should  be  made  under  glass  in  March,  and  another 
one  in  the  open  in  April  ;  by  this  means  a  succession  is 
secured.  The  plants  resulting  from  a  September  sowing  will, 
of  course,  be  the  earliest  to  flower. 

The  best  are  G.  achi/lecefolia,  i\  foot,  purple-blue;  G.  an- 
drosacea  (syn.  Leptosiphon  androsaceus),  9  inches,  lilac  or  pink 
with  yellowish  throat  (there  arc  several  garden  forms);  G. 
capitata,  i  foot,  blue  ;  G.  densiflora  (syn.  Leptosiphon  detisi- 
florus)  and  G.  d.  albus,  i  foot,  respectively  rosy-lilac  and  white, 
possess  an  exquisite  beauty,  and  are  generally  known  as 
Leptosiphons  ;  G.  dianthoidcs,  6  inches,  lilac ;  G.  ladniata,  9 
inches,  purple  ;  G.  micraniha,  9  inches,  rose  ;  and  G.  tricolor, 
I  foot,  in  various  colours,  but  chiefly  blue,  violet,  or  white, 
with  yellowish  centre.  Snow  Queen  appears  to  be  a  white, 
yellow-centred  variety,  and  Nivalis  is  probably  also  a  white 
form,  while  minima  is  a  dwarfer  and  later  flowering  form 
with  blue  flowers,  and  a  capital  subject  for  the  Rock  garden  or 
for  an  edging.  Those  who  have  not  grown  the  Gilias  should 
certainly  give  them  a  trial. 


GYMNOLOMIA 

Gyynnolomia  multiflora  {Compositce)  may  be  aptly  described 
as  a  miniature  Sunflower.     It  is  hardy,  though  probably  best 


GYPSOPHILA  47 

treated  as  a  Half-hardy  Annual  in  all  but  favoured  places. 
It  grows  about  i^  foot  to  2  feet  high,  and  in  late  Summer 
and  Autumn  it  keeps  up  a  good  supply  of  golden-yellow, 
dark-centred  flowers  that  are  first  rate  for  cutting.  For  the 
border,  too,  the  plant  is  an  effective  one,  and  should  be  made 
a  note  of  by  all  who  wish  to  have  their  gardens  as  bright 
as  possible  in  Autumn.  A  few  years  ago  I  saw  this  Annual 
grown  in  some  quantity  in  a  garden  near  Bristol,  where  it 
proved  a  very  valuable  subject. 


GYPSOPHILA 

"  Chalk  Plant "  or  "  Gypsy  Flower '^ 

The  popular  Gypsy  Flower  so  largely  used  by  the  florists 
in  floral  designs  is  the  perennial  Gypsophila  panicidata 
i^Caryophyllacecz),  but  the  hardy  annual  species,  G.  elegans,  is 
equally  as  popular  and  extensively  grown  for  the  great  flower 
markets.  For  this  latter  purpose  it  is  sown  somewhat  thickly 
in  drills,  two  or  three  sowings  being  made  in  the  Spring  and 
one  in  the  Autumn.  This  method  allows  of  easy  bunching. 
In  the  garden  some  amount  of  thinning  is  advisable,  and  a 
few  twiggy  sticks  from  an  old  birch  broom  should  be  placed 
among  the  plants  to  support  their  slender  growth  against 
wind  and  rain. 

G.  elegans  is  about  i\  foot  high,  and  its  pinkish  variety, 
G.  e.  rosea,  is  of  similar  stature,  while  a  grandiflora  strain, 
also  known  as  White  Pearl,  is  of  about  the  same  height,  but 
has  larger  flowers,  and  is  the  better  plant  if  effectiveness  in 
the  border  is  the  first  consideration.  G.  muralis  grows  6 
inches  high,  and  has  pink  flowers ;  it  is  a  suitable  plant  for 
the  Rock  garden,  but  is  not  of  high  merit,  I  have  never  seen 
G.  elegans  prove  to  be  a  perennial,  though  it  is  described  as  a 
perennial  in  several  well-known  gardening  dictionaries. 


48        PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 


HELIANTHUS 

"  Stinflower" 

Superior  people  affect  to  despise  Sunflowers,  because  they 
are  so  commonly  found  in  gardens,  and  though  they  grow 
the  perennial  species  they  will  not  have  the  Annual.  One  does 
not  wish  to  quarrel  with  personal  likes  and  dislikes ;  but  it 
does  seem  strange  that  the  smaller-growing  Sunflowers  of 
the  Stella  or  H.  cucumerifolius  group  are  not  far  more  widely 
cultivated. 

Helianthus  anniius  {Compositce)  is  the  parent  of  our  garden 
varieties  of  annual  Sunflowers,  and  though  it  is  usually  6  feet 
to  8  feet  high,  it  sometimes  ascends  to  lo  feet  or  even  12  feet, 
as  the  daily  papers  do  not  forget  to  tell  us.  Every  one  knows 
the  great  golden-rayed  flower  heads,  with  the  huge  disk  that 
presently  becomes  studded  with  seeds  arranged  in  a  wonder- 
fully regular  pattern.  The  monster  double  sorts  with  the 
disk  florets  developed  so  as  to  form  a  rounded  head  are  also 
fairly  common,  and  they  are  fine  for  planting  in  big  borders, 
or  near  the  margin  of  shrub  and  tree  plantations,  or  near 
water.  Both  the  giant  single  and  double  forms  are  offered  in 
several  shades  of  yellow.  For  the  garden  proper  the  varieties 
of  H.  annuus  cucumerifolius  are  best,  as  they  grow  from  2\  feet 
to  4  feet  high,  and  have  a  branching  habit.  Their  flowers 
are  from  4  to  6  inches  across,  golden  yellow,  with  dark  brown 
centre  ;  Apollo  is  golden,  with  maroon  centre,  and  is  very 
dwarf ;  Orion  has  revolute  margins  to  its  golden  florets,  and 
thus  it  has  the  form  of  a  Cactus  Dahlia  ;  Primrose  Stella  has 
soft  primrose-yellow  flowers ;  Mars  is  golden  yellow  with 
purplish  centre  ;  Princess  Ida  is  soft  white,  with  pale  yellow 
band  round  the  dark  centre  ;  and  Venus  is  cream-coloured 
with  yellow  shading  round  the  purplish  centre.     Perkeo  is  a 


HELICHRYSUM  49 

distinct  new  form,  only  about  a  foot  high,  but  making  a  neat 
bush  that  carries  plenty  of  golden  flowers.  I  have  grown 
many  of  these  dwarf  or  miniature  Sunflowers  for  a  number 
of  years,  and  am  thoroughly  satisfied  that  as  yet  their  beauty 
and  usefulness  are  not  generally  recognised.  Seeds  may  be 
sown  singly  in  small  pots  under  glass,  in  April,  for  planting  out 
in  May ;  or  sown  in  March  where  the  plants  are  to  flower. 

Helianthus  argophyllus,  6  feet,  yellow,  is  a  Texan  plant  very 
like  H.  annuus,  but  not  so  good.  By  some  authorities  H. 
cucumerifolius  is  regarded  as  a  species,  and  others  consider  it 
a  form  of  H.  'debzlis,  but  here  it  is  regarded  as  a  form  of  H. 
annuus. 

HELICHRYSUM 
"  Everlasting  Flower  " 

Some  of  the  very  best  of  the  "  Everlasting  "  flowers  are  to 
be  found  in  the  genus  Helichrysum  {Coinpositce).  Although  the 
family  is  a  large  one,  very  few  species  merit  cultivation,  but 
those  grown  have  numerous  garden  varieties  and  make  good 
border  plants,  besides  being  useful  when  the  flowers  are  cut 
and  hung  downwards  to  dry,  ready  for  Winter  decorations. 
They  are  Half-hardy  Annuals.  The  species  most  in  cultivation 
is  H.  bracteatum,  3  feet,  variously  coloured ;  H.  b.  aureum  and 
H.  b.  chrysanthum  are  yellow  ;  H.  b.  compositum  is  double  ; 
H.  b.  macranthum  is  large,  white  and  rose ;  and  H.  b.  niveum, 
white.  With  these  to  work  with  the  seedsmen  have  raised 
Golden  Globe,  Silver  Queen,  Pink  Beauty,  Fireball,  and  other 
good  varieties  of  fine  colour. 

HELIPTERUM 

^^  Immortelle" 

This  is  a  family  of  South  African  or  Australian  plants 
{Cojnpositce)  that  also   belongs  to   the    "Everlastings."     The 

D 


50       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

plants  resemble  the  Helichrysums  and  need  exactly  the  same 
kind  of  treatment,  with  the  exception  of  H.  Manglesii,  which, 
under  the  name  of  Rhodanthe  Manglesii,  is  a  very  popular 
pot  plant  with  the  market  growers,  and  is  a  graceful  and 
pretty  subject  for  conservatory  decoration.  This  species, 
raised  in  heat  in  March,  is  grown  five  plants  in  a  48-sizdd  pot, 
in  light,  rich  soil.  If  grown  out-of-doors  it  is  best  sown  where 
it  is  to  flower,  about  April,  and  thinned  to  two  or  three  inches 
apart.  H.  roseum  is  better  known  as  Acroclinium  roseum.  H. 
Cotiila,  i\  foot,  yellow  and  white;  and  H.  Huuiboldtianum 
(syn.  H.  Sand/ordianum),  i\  foot,  yellow,  are  other  species  in 
cultivation. 

HUMULUS 

"Japanese  Hop  " 

A  very  pretty  climbing  Annual,  and  one  that  will  attain  a 
height  of  18  feet  in  a  favourable  season,  is  Huinulus  japonicus 
{Urticacece).  For  screens,  pergolas,  porches,  and  verandahs, 
or  for  covering  an  outhouse  with  graceful  greenery,  it  is  a 
fine  subject.  There  is  a  variegated  variety  of  great  merit. 
From  seeds  sown  out-of-doors  in  April  or  May  good  results 
will  follow,  but  to  give  the  plants  the  best  possible  chance  the 
seeds  ought  to  be  sown  in  gentle  heat  in  March  or  April,  and 
the  seedlings  potted  as  necessary,  until  by  the  end  of  May 
they  will  be  large  and  fit  to  grow  away  speedily  when  planted 
out. 

IBERIS 

''Candytuft" 

The  Hardy  Annual  Candytufts  {Ct-nciferct)  are  rarely  seen 
at  their  best,  because  it  is  difficult  to  persuade  folks  to  sow 
thinly   and   thin   severelv.      The  seedsmen   have  done  their 


IMPATIENS  51 

best  and  given  us  the  Spiral,  Hyacinth-flowered,  and  Rocket 
strains,  as  well  as  distinct  colours,  such  as  purest  white,  lilac, 
rose,  carmine,  and  crimson.  Then  there  is  a  particular 
dwarf  form  named  Little  Prince,  only  6  inches  high,  and  a 
mass  of  whiteness  for  a  long  period ;  it  is  a  charming  plant 
for  edging  or  for  the  Rock  garden.  The  other  sorts  grow 
about  a  foot  high  and  will  be  as  much  across  if  given  room. 
These  fragrant  and  useful  flowers  should  be  largely  grown, 
and  sowings  made  in  late  August  or  September  will  provide 
early  flowers  that  will  be  followed  by  plants  raised  from  a 
Spring  sowing.  Almost  any  soil  and  situation  will  suit 
Candytufts,  and  there  is  no  need  to  raise  plants  under  glass, 
though  they  may  be  so  raised  in  March  or  April,  and  planted 
out  early,  but  they  do  not  love  transplantation,  and  always 
succeed  best  in  a  sunny,  open  position.  In  the  not  very  kind 
year  of  19 10  I  had  a  fine  display  of  the  carmine  Candytuft 
on  a  narrow  border  that  is  well  filled  with  Daffodils,  and 
which  would  never  look  beautiful  in  Summer  but  for  the  help 
of  Annuals. 

Iberis  amara  is  the  native  Candytuft,  white-flowered,  and 
probably  from  its  variety  spiralis  the  Spiral  Candytufts  have 
been  developed.  The  Common  or  garden  Candytuft  has 
been  derived  from  /.  umbellata,  a  native  of  Southern  Europe, 
while  a  form  of  the  species,  known  as  /.  coronaria,  has  given 
rise  to  the  handsome  Rocket  Candytufts. 


IMPATIENS 

*^  Balsam" 

The  old  florists  had  a  great  love  for  Balsams,  and  the 
flowers  were  very  popular  many  years  ago.  Much  time  and 
care  were  spent  on  their  cultivation,  and  unless  a  flower  was 
as  perfectly  double  as  a  finely-formed  Camellia  it  did  not 


52       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

come  up  to  the  highest  standard  of  excellence.  Though 
Balsams  {^Gerajiiacece)  are  still  grown  largely  for  Greenhouse 
and  Conservatory  decoration,  the  culture  of  these  handsome 
but  tender  plants  is  by  no  means  so  extensive  as  a  quarter  of 
a  century  ago.  The  Balsams  are  Half-hardy  Annuals,  and 
they  have  a  distinct  value  for  beds  and  borders  as  well  as  for 
pot  culture  ;  indeed  their  use  might  be  greatly  extended  with 
advantage  in  connexion  with  Summer  gardening,  especially 
where  there  are  conveniences  for  raising  a  batch  of  seedlings, 
growing  them  into  good-sized  plants,  and  protecting  them 
until  all  fear  of  frost  is  over. 

Seeds  of  the  very  best  strains  of  Balsams  are  expensive 
as  compared  with  the  price  paid  for  many  Annuals,  and  this 
is  so  because  the  finer  the  strain,  and  the  more  double  the 
flowers,  the  more  difficult  it  is  to  obtain  seeds.  Where 
Balsams  are  grown  for  Conservatory  decoration  it  is  a  good 
plan  to  make  two  or  three  sowings,  these  ranging  from  early 
in  February  to  the  end  of  March,  but  where  an  outdoor 
effect  is  the  end  in  view,  then  a  mid-March  sowing  will 
be  suitable  in  most  cases,  as  the  plants  grow  freely  when 
once  past  their  seedling  stage  and  would  require  a  great 
deal  of  house  room  over  a  long  period  if  raised  earlier  ;  the 
early  raised  batch  would  also  necessitate  a  good  deal  of  extra 
labour  in  the  matter  of  potting  and  watering. 

A  gentle  heat  of  about  60°,  with  a  slightly  higher 
bottom  heat,  will  ensure  quick  and  fairly  regular  germination. 
Loam,  leaf-soil,  and  sand  make  a  good  seed-bed,  and  if  the 
surface  is  pressed  level  and  firm  the  seeds  can  easily  be  sown 
thinly  and  regularly  upon  it ;  they  should  be  pressed  into 
the  soil  and  just  covered  with  a  little  fine,  sandy  compost, 
and  carefully  watered  through  the  medium  of  a  fine  rose. 
As  soon  as  the  seedlings  have  formed  the  second  leaf,  t.e. 
the  first  leaf  after  the  cotyledons  have  developed,  each  one 
should   be   potted   into  a  3-inch  pot,  in  a  mixture  of  loam, 


GROWTH    OF    BALSAMS  53 

old  and  dried  cow-manure,  and  leaf-soil,  using  these  materials 
in  the  proportions  of  three,  two,  and  one  respectively,  adding 
sand  according  to  the  texture  of  the  loam,  and  sufficient  to 
render  the  compost  porous.  Balsams  are  free  feeders,  and 
as  they  are  of  a  succulent  nature  they  need  a  great  deal  of 
moisture,  hence  the  need  of  a  porous  compost  and  perfect 
drainage. 

At  the  first  potting  the  little  plants  must  be  placed  low 
in  the  soil,  so  that  the  cotyledons,  or  seed-leaves,  rest 
on  the  surface  when  potting  is  finished.  This  serves  a 
double  purpose ;  the  plants  are  kept  from  becoming 
"leggy"  at  the  start  and  roots  speedily  form  on  the  part 
of  the  stem  that  is  covered.  A  genial  temperature  and  a 
position  near  the  glass  are  necessary  until  the  plants  are 
well  established.  After  a  time  a  further  potting  will  be 
needed,  and  as  the  weather  improves  less  artificial  heat 
will  suffice.  In  May  a  frame  will  provide  sufficient  protec- 
tion in  most  seasons,  every  care  being  taken  to  guard  against 
frost  and  low  temperatures.  Ventilation  must  be  given  in 
steadily  increasing  measure,  so  that  by  the  second  week  in 
June  the  plants  will  be  hardy  enough  for  transplanting  in 
the  Flower  garden.  July  is  the  usual  time  of  flowering,  but 
this  depends  upon  the  time  of  sowing  and  the  method  of 
cultivation  adopted. 

The  further  consideration  of  Balsams  for  pot  culture  is 
hardly  in  accord  with  the  scope  of  the  present  work. 

In  the  foregoing  remarks  the  recommendations  are  for 
varieties  of  Impatiens  Balsamina  {Geraniacece),  a  species 
introduced  from  Tropical  Asia  as  long  ago  as  1596.  The 
hardy  annual  species  may  be  sown  where  they  are  to  flower, 
or  be  raised  in  a  seed-bed  in  a  warm  position  and  trans- 
planted in  due  course ;  but  in  most  seasons  the  trouble  lies 
not  in  raising  a  stock,  but  in  keeping  the  self-sown  seedlings 
from  becoming  a  nuisance  and  over-running  neighbouring 


54       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

plants.  The  generic  title,  Impatiens,  was  given  because  the 
seed  pods  are  impatient  of  the  slightest  touch  when  the  seeds 
are  nearly  ripe,  the  valves  discharging  the  seeds  at  the  least 
provocation  and  to  a  little  distance. 

Of  Ivipatiens  Balsaminn,  there  are  several  florists'  strains : 
the  chief  of  these  are  those  known  as  Camellia-flowered  and 
Rose-flowered.  A  dwarf  strain  grows  only  about  6  inches 
high.  The  Rose  Balsam  may  be  obtained  in  a  number  of 
colours,  and  these  come  true.  The  Camellia -flowered 
Balsams  are  the  finest  for  general  purposes,  and  are  sold 
in  distinct  colours,  notably  salmon-pink,  white,  rose,  violet, 
scarlet,  and  cream.  Both  these  strains  reach  a  height  of 
i\  foot  to  2  feet. 

/.  amphorata,  4  feet  to  6  feet,  is  a  Hardy  Annual  that  pro- 
duces pale  purple  flowers  at  the  end  of  the  Summer,  and  is 
fine  for  large  borders  or  for  the  semi-wild  garden  ;  /.  bijiora, 
3  feet,  orange,  is  of  less  merit,  but  quite  hardy,  and  looks 
well  by  the  water  side;  /.  discolor,  li  foot,  yellowish,  is  also 
hardy.  /.  Roylei,  4  feet  to  6  feet,  is  a  noble  plant,  and 
has  purplish  or  white  flowers ;  this  is  a  variable  species, 
the  variety  macrochila  growing  a  couple  of  feet  higher  than 
the  type,  and  bearing  light  purple  flowers,  while  the  variety 
pallidiflora  is  of  similar  character  but  has  paler  blooms.  /. 
Roylei  and  its  varieties  are  of  considerable  value  in  the  larger 
gardens,  but  in  many  places  the  plant  is  so  rampant  that 
it  is  regarded  as  a  coarse  weed  rather  than  a  flower  to 
encourage. 


lONOPSIDIUM 

"  Violet  Cress" 

One  of  the  gems  among  Hardy  Annuals  is  the  dainty  lonop- 
sidium  acaule  {Cruci/era),  which  grows  about  2  inches  high. 


IPOMOEA  55 

and  is  especially  adapted  for  a  semi-shady  place  in  the 
Rock  garden.  Its  little  four-petalled  flowers  are  lilac-blue, 
and  very  bright  and  cheerful  looking.  Once  it  is  sown  in 
the  Spring  where  it  is  to  flower  it  is  little  trouble,  as  it 
usually  sheds  seeds  freely,  and  little  colonies  follow  each 
other,  and  only  need  thinning  or  occasional  transplanting 
to  a  new  site.  Both  /.  acaule  and  the  white  variety  album 
require  fairly  moist  soil.  The  Violet  Cress,  to  give  it  its 
popular  name,  is  also  known  as  Cochlearia  acaulis. 


IPOMOEA 

"  Morning  Glory  " 

The  Annual  climber  so  well-known  as  Convolvulus  major 
is  correctly  Ipomoea  purpurea  {Convolvulacece),  and  has  also 
been  named  Pharbitis  hispida.  Though  not  perfectly  hardy, 
seeds  may  be  sown  out-of-doors  early  in  May  with  every 
prospect  of  success,  but  stronger  plants  can  be  obtained 
for  planting  at  the  end  of  May  or  in  early  June  if  seeds  are 
sown  in  gentle  heat  in  March  or  April.  For  window  boxes, 
balconies  and  arches  this  Ipomoea  is  specially  fitted,  and 
there  are  enough  colour  variations  to  please  every  one.  The 
seedsmen  offer  pale  and  dark  blue,  crimson,  purple,  rose, 
red-striped,  blue-striped,  and  white  varieties,  and  these  come 
wonderfully  true.  There  are  double-flowered,  as  well  as  the 
more  popular  single  varieties. 

KOCHIA 

"  Belvedere  "  or  *'  Summer  Cypress  " 

The  rapidity  with  which  Kochia  trichophila  {Chenopodiacece) 
gained  popular  appreciation  after  Messrs.  H.   Cannell   and 


56       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

Sons  first  brought  it  into  general  notice  was  wonderful. 
The  species  is  not  valuable  for  its  flowers,  but  for  the  shapeli- 
ness of  the  plants  and  the  elegance  of  the  abundant  foliage, 
which  turns  a  rich  blood-red  colour  in  autumn.  It  is  used  to 
good  effect  for  furnishing  "dot  "  plants  for  the  Flower  garden 
and  for  grouping  in  borders.  Quite  hardy  plants  may  be 
raised  from  an  early  Spring  sowing,  but  the  finest  results 
are  obtained  when  seeds  are  sown  in  pans  in  a  warm  green- 
house in  March,  each  seedling  being  potted  in  its  own  pot 
and  gradually  hardened  off  ready  to  plant  out  at  bedding- 
out  time.  The  popular  names  of  Belvedere  and  Summer 
Cypress  have  been  given  to  Kochia  trichopliila.  K.  scoparia 
is  an  inferior  species,  but  it  was  the  name  under  which 
K.  trichopliila  first  became  popular. 


LATHYRUS 

Sweet  Pea 

The  Sweet  Pea — Lathyrus  odoratus  {Legiiminosip) — in  many 
varieties  is  prominently  before  the  public  nowadays ;  but 
this  is  not  the  place  to  discuss  such  a  popular  subject,  be- 
cause a  special  book  in  the  "  Present-Day  Gardening  "  series 
is  devoted  to  Sweet  Peas  and  their  cultivation.  There  are, 
however,  several  Hardy  Annual  species  besides  L.  odoratus 
{Leg7aninoscB)y  and  though  they  are  not  of  great  garden 
value  they  may  be  mentioned.  These  are  L.  cirr/iosus,  rose- 
pink  ;  L.  Nissolia,  crimson  ;  and  L.  tingitanus,  purple-red, 
and  about  3  feet  high.  All  are  raised  from  seeds  sown  either 
in  Spring  or  Autumn. 


PLATE   V 

AFRICAN   MARIGOLD   {Tagetes  erecta)   AND   FRENCH 
MARIGOLD   {Tagetes patuld) 


LAVATERA  59 


LAVATERA 

"  Mallow  " 

Where  there  is  room  for  a  free-branching  Hardy  Annual, 
3  feet  high,  the  Lavateras  {Malvacece)  should  be  a  first  selec- 
tion, because  they  last  long  in  perfection  and  produce  their 
large,  beautiful  flowers  with  great  freedom.  L.  trimestris 
is  the  species,  and  it  will  do  well  sown  in  the  Autumn  and 
thinned  to  2  feet  apart.  It  may  be  raised  in  gentle  heat 
in  Spring,  but  it  has  a  very  bad  habit  of  damping  off  when 
transferred  from  the  seed-bed  to  pots  or  boxes.  Failing  an 
Autumn  sowing,  sow  where  the  plants  are  to  flower,  in  March 
or  April.  The  type  has  pale,  silvery-rose  flowers,  and  there 
is  a  lovely  white  variety,  but  each  of  these  has  been 
improved  upon,  and  the  best  are  those  catalogued  as 
L.  splendens  alba  and  L.  splendens  rosea.  In  these  the  flowers 
are  larger  and  the  habit  of  growth  more  compact  than  in 
the  true  species. 

LEPTOSYNE 

Closely  alhed  to  the  Coreopsis,  and  very  like  Coreopsis  in 
general  appearance,  the  Leptosynes  {CompositcE)  bear  their 
flower  heads  on  long  stems  and  are  fine  for  cutting.  L. 
Douglasizy  I  foot,  yellow,  must  be  raised  in  gentle  heat  in  Spring 
and  planted  out  in  May  ;  E.  callwpsidea,  i|  foot,  yellow,  flowers 
in  Autumn.  L.  Stillmannii  is  of  recent  introduction  ;  it  grows 
\\  foot  high,  and  has  golden-yellow  flower  heads,  \\  inch 
across,  and  comes  into  bloom  five  or  six  weeks  from  the  time 
of  sowing  in  April  in  a  sunny  position,  in  good  garden  soil. 


6o        PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 


LIMNANTHES 

For  very  many  years  Limnauthes  Douglasii  {Gemniacae) 
has  been  a  favourite  Hardy  Annual  and  one  grown  largely 
for  edging,  for  beds,  and  borders,  and  considered  quite  the 
thing  to  grow  in  cjuantity  where  bees  are  kept.  It  is  only  6 
inches  high,  but  its  yellow,  white-edged,  fragrant  flowers  are 
charming  :  so  much  so  that  when  the  plant  is  once  grown  in 
a  garden  it  holds  its  position.  Sowings  should  be  made  both 
in  Spring  and  Autumn. 


LINARIA 

"  Toadflax  " 

In  some  parts  of  the  country  the  Hardy  Annual  Linarias 
{Scroplitilariacece)  are  immensely  popular,  while  in  other 
parts  they  are  seldom  seen.  They  have  the  popular  title  of 
Toadflax,  and  the  two-lipped  flowers  have  a  close  resem- 
blance to  those  of  the  Antirrhinum.  Where  they  are 
appreciated  an  Autumn  and  a  Spring  sowing  should  always 
be  made.  Suitable  alike  for  beds  and  borders,  the  Linarias 
supply  elegant  flowers  for  cutting.  The  best  species  are  L. 
bipartita,  i  foot,  purple,  and  its  variety  splendens  and  L.  maroc- 
cana,  \\  foot,  purple — of  this  last  there  are  numerous  garden 
forms,  such  as  Excelsior,  a  strain  with  colours  ranging  from 
pink  and  yellow  to  blue  and  violet ;  Queen  of  Roses,  rosy- 
carmine  ;  White  Pearl  and  Snow  White,  white  ;  and  Golden 
Gem,  9  inches,  yellow.  Other  species  are  L.  reticulata^  2  feet, 
purple  and  yellow ;  L.  spartea,  i  foot,  yellow  ;  and  L.  tristis, 
6  inches,  yellow  and  purple  or  crimson,  a  pretty  plant  for 
edging  or  for  the  Rock  garden. 


LINUM  6i 

LINUM 

''Flax" 

An  extremely  popular  garden  plant  is  Liniivi  gi-andifiorum 
{Linece)y  6  to  12  inches  high,  rose-coloured,  but  its  varieties 
are  even  better  for  general  use.  These  are  L.  g.  coccineum, 
deep  rosy-crimson  ;  and  L.  g.  kerniesinum,  blue.  Linuvi  usita- 
tissiimim,  the  Common  Flax  of  commerce,  and  the  plant  from 
which  we  get  Linseed,  is  also  beautiful,  its  round  bright  blue 
flowers  on  slender  graceful  stems  being  altogether  charming. 
All  the  foregoing  are  hardy,  and  should  be  sown  out-of-doors 
in  April  where  they  are  to  flower,  but  as  they  make  pretty  pot 
plants  it  may  be  desirable  to  make  a  small  sowing  under  glass 
during  the  Spring. 

LUPINUS 

''Lupine'* 

While  there  is  a  very  great  deal  to  be  said  in  favour  of 
the  handsome,  perennial  Lupines  {LegtiminoscE),  there  is  also 
much  to  recommend  the  annual  species.  These  latter  are 
useful  for  furnishing  an  immediate  effect,  and  they  are  par- 
ticularly serviceable  for  filling  vacancies  in  herbaceous 
borders  and  shrubberies  and  in  the  Flower  garden  proper. 
When  grown  in  groups  of  one  colour  in  association  with 
other  Hardy  Annuals  of  less  height,  they  are  at  once  stately, 
graceful  and  effective.  Quite  hardy,  varying  from  i  foot 
to  3  feet  high,  they  have  many  claims  to  consideration, 
not  the  least  of  which  is  that  the  long  spikes  are  useful  for 
filling  large  vases.  In  the  semi-wild  garden,  and  for  positions 
on  the  outskirts  of  tree  and  shrubbery  plantations  the  annual 
Lupines  are  of  great  value. 

They  are  as  useful  in  a  small  garden  as  in  a  large  one, 
and  the  only  failing — if  failing  it  is — is  that  the  seedlings  do 


62       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

not  transplant  well.  Therefore  the  seeds  should  be  sown 
where  the  plants  are  to  flower,  in  the  early  Autumn  or  in 
March.  If  seedlings  are  raised  in  a  frame  or  greenhouse 
in  the  Spring,  then  the  pricking  off  process  must  take  place 
at  the  earliest  possible  date  and  each  plant  be  placed  in  a 
small  pot  from  which  it  can  be  planted  out  in  due  course 
without  suffering  serious  harm  ;  under  this  method  it  may 
be  desirable  to  shift  each  plant  into  a  larger  pot  some  time 
before  planting,  otherwise  the  best  possible  results  may  not 
be  obtained. 

The  meritorious  species  are  L.  Cruickshanksii,  4  feet,  blue, 
purple  and  yellow,  not  entirely  hardy  everywhere  ;  L.  densi- 
floriis  (syn.  L.  Menziesii),  \\  foot,  yellow;  L.  luteus,  2  feet, 
yellow,  fragrant ;  L.  mutabilis,  3  to  5  feet,  white  and  blue  ; 
L.  VI.  versicolor,  purple,  blue  and  rose,  and  L.  nanus,  i  foot,  lilac 
and  blue  :  of  this  latter  species  there  is  a  fine  white  variety ; 
and  L.  subcarnosus,  i  foot,  blue  and  yellow.  Besides  these 
there  is  L.  hybridus  atrococcineus,  a  garden-raised  plant  with 
tall  spikes  of  scarlet  flowers,  the  blossoms  tipped  with  white. 
L.  Hartwegit'xs  not  really  an  Annual,  but  the  blue  and  white 
forms  of  it  offered  by  seedsmen  are  seldom  of  more  than  annual 
duration,  and  so  are  almost  always  listed  as  Hardy  Annual. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  Lupines  love  the  sunshine, 
and  seem  to  do  best  in  soils  containing  a  good  deal  of 
lime.  They  are  first-class  plants  in  every  respect.  From 
I  foot  to  i|  foot  apart  is  not  too  far  to  thin  them  ;  it  is  a 
good  plan  to  sow  the  seeds  6  inches  apart,  an  inch  or  so 
deep,  and  thin  the  seedlings  to  the  desired  distance. 

LYCHNIS 

^^  Rose  of  Heaven  " 

Although  not  much  grown  at  present,  a  good  deal  might 
be    written  on  behalf    of   the   varieties   of   Lychnis   Caii-rosea 


MALCOMIA  63 

{CaryophyllacecE\  a  Hardy  Annual  formerly  somewhat  popular 
as  Agrostemma  Ccela-rosea,  and  also  known  as  Viscaria 
oculata.  It  is  usually  best  managed  if  sown  in  March  or 
April  where  it  is  to  flower,  the  seedlings  being  thinned  to 
6  or  8  inches  apart  as  soon  as  large  enough  to  be  easily 
handled.  A  native  of  the  Levant,  with  the  popular  title  of 
Rose  of  Heaven,  this  Annual  has  no  special  likes  or  dis- 
likes in  the  matter  of  soil,  but  prefers  a  sunny  site  to  a 
shaded  one.     The  magenta  flowers  are  not  beloved  by  all. 


MALCOMIA 

u  Virginian  Stock" 

There  are  at  least  half-a-dozen  Hardy  Annual  species  of 
Malcomia  in  cultivation,  but  the  species  best  known  in 
gardens  is  M.  maritima  {Cruciferce),  the  Virginian  Stock. 
This  plant  grows  from  6  to  9  inches  high,  and  is  obtainable 
in  several  colours  ;  it  is  a  very  elegant  little  plant,  particularly 
showy  for  its  size  and  suitable  for  beds  or  for  breadths  in  the 
flower  border.  Several  sowings  must  be  made  from  March 
to  June  if  a  succession  of  bright  flowers  is  to  be  maintained, 
and  a  September  sowing  will  give  an  early  spring  display. 
The  seeds  are  small  and  need  only  be  just  covered  with  soil, 
but  sow  thinly  and  thin  out  to  3  or  4  inches  apart.  Any 
good  garden  soil  will  suffice,  but  one  of  light  medium  char- 
acter appears  to  suit  the  plant  best.  Good  selections  are 
Crimson  King,  crimson  and  purple  ;  and  Fairy  Queen,  rich 
crimson  ;  there  are  also  crimson,  mauve  and  white  mixtures. 
M.  bicolor  is  pink  and  yellow  ;  while  M.  Chia  is  purple,  and 
M.  littorea  pink  and  purple.  The  generic  title  is  sometimes 
erroneously  spelt  Malcolmia. 


64       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

MALOPE 

"  Ma/low-wort " 

Closely  allied  to  the  Lavateras  and  Mallows,  Malope 
trifida  {Malvacea)  is  a. capital  garden  plant,  making  bushy 
specimens  2  feet  high,  and  bearing  glossy  or  satiny  flowers 
of  good  size  and  great  beauty.  The  type  is  now  rarely  seen, 
as  an  improved  or  grandiflora  strain  is  always  offered  by 
the  seedsmen.  Red,  white,  and  rose  coloured  varieties  come 
very  true.  For  massing  in  considerable  groups  the  Malopes 
are  useful  plants,  and  they  look  well  against  a  background  of 
shrubs  or  tall  herbaceous  plants.  Sow  in  a  greenhouse  in 
March  or  in  the  open  in  April,  planting  or  thinning  the  plants 
to  i^  foot  apart.  The  Malopes  are  good  plants  for  town 
gardens. 

MALVA 

''Mallow'* 

The  annual  species  of  Mallow  are  not  of  much  value 
in  the  garden,  but  M.  crispa,  5  feet,  white,  has  some  merit 
as  a  foliage  plant  for  subtropical  effects,  because  of  its  large, 
crimped  leafage.  Seeds  should  be  raised  under  glass  in 
March,  potted  singly,  and  planted  out  in  May  or  June. 

MARTYNIA 

"  Elephant's  rnink  " 

Martj'tiia  fragrans  ^Pedalinece)  is  a  striking  Half-hardy 
Annual,  2  feet  high,  with  woolly  foliage  and  large  Gloxinia- 
like flowers  of  mauve  or  purple  colour  and  sweetly  scented, 
The  flowers  are  followed  by  double-horned  seeds  that  are 
sometimes  picked  while  young  and  pickled.  M.  proboscidea 
(syn.  M.  annua)  is  of  shorter  growth,  and  has  blue  and 
white  flowers  that  are  also  sweetly  scented.     Both  are  worthy 


MATRICARIA  65 

of  culture,  but  M.  fragrans  is  the  better  plant.  Sow  in  heat 
in  March,  placing  each  seed  in  a  small  pot,  harden  off  and 
plant  out  in  June  about  i  foot  apart ;  a  moist  yet  sunny 
position  gives  the  best  results. 


MATRICARIA 

'^ May  Weed" 

Matricaria  inodora  {Composites)  is  a  native  weed,  but  cultiva- 
tion has  so  altered  it  that  its  double  forms  are  of  considerable 
usefulness  in  the  garden.  Two  fine  varieties  are  in  cultiva- 
tion, and  both  deserve  wide  culture,  as  they  are  excellent  sub- 
jects for  bedding  or  for  grouping  in  herbaceous  or  shrubbery 
borders.  These  are  Bridal  Robe  and  Snowball,  Both  have  pure 
white,  double  blooms  ;  the  former  variety  is  about  i;^  foot  high 
and  the  latter  2  feet  to  2^  feet  high.  Bridal  Robe  I  have  seen 
growing  in  quantity  in  not  a  few  large  gardens,  but  the  most 
remarkable  display  that  has  come  under  my  notice  was  at 
Messrs.  Watkins  &  Simpson's  trial  grounds  at  Feltham  a 
year  or  two  ago,  where  a  large  breadth  in  full  bloom  could 
be  likened  to  nothing  better  than  a  mass  of  freshly  fallen 
snow,  the  whole  being  wonderfully  even  and  of  dazzling  white- 
ness. In  my  own  garden  I  have  to  be  content  with  a  few 
small  groups,  raised  from  seeds  sown  in  gentle  heat  in  April. 
Six  or  eight  inches  apart  is  a  good  distance  to  plant  the 
seedlings  in  May  after  they  have  been  fully  hardened. 

MATTHIOLA 

"  Stock  " 

A  garden  of  any  pretension  without  its  summer-flowering 
Stocks  is  almost  unthinkable.  Stocks  are  splendid  plants, 
and  a  vast  amount  of  time  and  care  have  been  expended  upon 
their    selection  and  improvement.     Many   continental  firms 


66        PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

have  done  jfood  work  in  this  direction,  and  at  home  Messrs. 
Webb  &  Sons,  J,  Carter  &  Co.,  and  Sutton  &  Sons  have 
raised  some  first-rate  varieties.  Few  plants  equal  Stocks  for 
bedding  purposes,  and  no  Annuals  excel  them  for  the  pro- 
duction of  bold  effects  in  a  border.  To  the  purity  and 
brilliance  of  their  colouring  must  be  added  the  attributes  of 
stateliness,  good  habit,  double  and  lasting  flowers,  and  sweet 
fragrance. 

Two  species  have  provided  us  with  the  wide  range  of  Stocks 
now  available  for  garden  decoration,  and  these  are  Matthiola 
incana  {Crucifera),  with  its  variety  annua,  and  M.  sinuata.  It 
is  specially  interesting  to  notice  that  from  M.  incana  have 
come  such  different  groups  as  the  quick-flowering  Ten- 
week  and  the  Brompton  Stocks.  These  latter,  as  well  as 
the  East  Lothian  or  Intermediate  Stocks  obtained  from 
JM.  sinuata,  are  Half-hardy  Annuals  ;  sometimes  they  are 
classed  as  biennials  and  are  grown  as  such,  but  they  can  be 
grown  to  flower  the  same  year  from  seeds,  even  though 
they  may  prove  finer  when  given  the  longer  season  of  growth. 

Culture 

Taking  the  popular  Ten-week  section  first,  the  best  method 
of  raising  plants  is  to  sow  seeds  thinly  in  well-drained  sandy 
soil  in  March  in  a  temperature  of  about  Oo°  ;  a  declining  hot- 
bed is  often  a  capital  place  for  raising  the  plants.  Only  just 
cover  the  seeds,  and  as  soon  after  germination  as  the  seed- 
lings can  be  successfully  handled  prick  them  off  into  boxes 
or  pans  of  soil  which  contain  a  fair  amount  of  leaf-mould, 
sand,  and  a  little  decayed,  dried  cow  manure.  Another 
method  is  to  place  the  seedlings  in  a  frame  very  soon  after 
they  have  formed  rough  leaves,  and  as  soon  as  they  have 
become  used  to  the  frame,  plant  them  4  inches  apart  in  a  bed  of 
soil  made  up  in  the  frame.  Here  they  can  receive  ventilation 
according  to  the  w^eather,  and  the  lights  can  be  entirely  re- 
moved when  the  plants  are  established  and  the  temperature 


REARING    OF    STOCKS  67 

permits.  The  process  of  hardening  off  is  easily  managed 
under  these  conditions,  the  plants  grow  sturdily  and  are 
excellent  material  for  planting  out  at  the  end  of  May  or  in 
early  June.  When  Annuals  are  grown  in  this  fashion  it  is  a 
good  plan  to  cut  through  the  soil  in  the  beds  between  the 
rows  of  plants,  with  an  edging  iron  or  a  large  knife,  a  week 
or  so  before  planting  time,  as  this  reduces  the  check  of  re- 
moval to  a  minimum. 

In  the  small  seedling  stage  Stocks  are  very  liable  to  damp 
off  with  surprising  suddenness.  To  prevent  this  trouble  thin 
sowing  must  be  practised,  and  the  seed  bed  must  be  composed 
of  light  and  well  drained  soil.  Further,  when  the  seedlings  are 
pricked  off  they  must  not  be  placed  too  low  in  the  new  soil  or 
there  will  be  trouble.  Seedlings  crowded  in  the  seed  bed 
become  attenuated  and  weakly,  and  so  there  is  a  tendency  to 
place  them  low  in  the  soil  when  first  transferring  them  so  as  to 
counteract  this  spindliness ;  the  result  is  failure.  The  thinly 
sown,  sturdy  seedlings  should  be  transplanted  so  that  after 
being  watered  the  ground  line  of  the  settled  soil  is  just  below 
the  seed-leaves.  If  the  seed-leaves  are  wholly  or  partly  buried 
damping  is  sure  to  be  troublesome. 

In  general  terms  this  advice  applies  also  to  the  other  kinds 
of  Stocks.  The  Intermediate  and  East  Lothian  Stocks  may 
receive  similar  treatment  and  they  will  flower  well  in  the 
Autumn,  but  if  they  are  required  to  flower  in  the  spring  time 
then  they  must  be  sown  in  June  or  July,  in  a  frame,  given 
open-air  treatment  until  September,  when  the  plants  must  be 
potted  into  60-sized  pots  and  wintered  in  a  cold  frame. 
Frost  must  be  excluded,  but  every  advantage  taken  of  fine 
weather  to  ventilate  freely.  Plunging  the  pots  in  ashes  is 
good  practice.  Plant  out  immediately  all  danger  from  frost 
is  over  in  the  Spring.  The  Brompton  Stocks  need  similar 
management  to  that  here  detailed  for  the  East  Lothians  when 
the  latter  are  needed  for  early  flowering  the  succeeding 
year. 


68       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

Varieties 

Ten-week  Stock'?  may  be  obtained  ranging  in  height  from 
8  inches  to  2  feet,  and  in  such  colours  as  white,  buff,  blush, 
rose,  pink,  salmon,  carmine,  mauve,  blue,  purple,  and  deep 
red.  What  are  listed  as  Bedding  Stocks  grow  from  10  to  12 
inches  high  ;  they  are  sturdy,  vigorous,  and  free-ffowering. 
The  Miniature  varieties  are  about  8  inches  high  and  the 
Bouquet  varieties  about  i  foot  high.  Dwarf  German  and 
Wallflower-leaved  sorts  are  i  foot  high,  and  the  latter  have 
distinct  foliage.  There  are  some  named  sorts  that  come  into 
this  group,  and  some  of  the  best  of  these  fine  selections  are 
Snowdrift,  Princess  Alice,  Bismarck,  Snowdon,  and  Mont 
Blanc,  white;  Princess  May,  primrose;  Celestial,  blue;  F'ireball, 
scarlet  ;  Salmon  Beauty,  salmon.  Beauty  of  Nice  is  the  name 
of  a  fine  strain  that  may  be  sown  in  late  Spring  for  winter 
flowering  under  glass,  but  it  is  also  good  for  summer  flower- 
ing. Stocks  for  flowering  under  glass  during  the  Winter 
and  early  Spring  hardly  come  under  our  purview  in  this 
work. 

Intermediate  varieties  and  also  the  East  Lothians  are 
offered  in  various  colours,  but  specially  good  among  the  former 
are  Covent  Garden  Scarlet,  very  bright  ;  May  Queen,  various  ; 
Crystal  White,  white  ;  and  Queen  Alexandra,  lilac. 

Matthiola  tristis,  the  Night-scented  Stock,  should  be  treated 
much  in  the  same  way  as  Mignonette,  several  sowings  being 
made  in  Spring  in  various  parts  of  the  garden. 

MECONOPSIS 

"  Poppy-wort'' 

Several  of  the  Meconopsis  {P apaveracece)  are  biennials,  but 
at  least  one  is  of  annual  duration,  namely,  M.  heterophylla. 
This  is  a  Californian  species  which  grows  about  i  foot  high, 
and  has  coppery,  orange-red  flowers  of  great  beauty.     It  is 


MENTZELIA    LINDLEYI  69 

half-hardy,  free  flowering,  and  takes  fairly  well  to  cultivation 
in  pots,  as  well  as  to  culture  in  light  moist  soil  in  the  Rock 
garden.  Sow  the  seeds  in  pans  in  a  warm  greenhouse  in 
March,  prick  out  the  plants,  and  harden  them  off  for  planting 
in  May  or  June.  When  better  known,  this  species  should 
become  one  of  the  most  popular  of  the  Poppy-worts. 


MENTZELIA  LINDLEYI 

^^ Barton^ s  Golden  Flower" 

The  golden-flowered  Californian  Annual  so  commonly 
listed  as  Bartonia  aurea  is,  correctly,  Mentzelia  Lindleyi 
[LoasacecE).  Whatever  name  it  is  grown  under  it  is  a  capital 
plant,  and  makes  an  especially  good  display  in  a  sunny  season 
like  that  of  191 1.  It  loves  the  sun,  and  whether  grown  in  a 
border  or  in  a  Rock  garden  this  point  should  not  be  forgotten. 
Though  hardy,  it  is  best  raised  in  a  frame  or  in  gentle  heat  in 
April  and  planted  out  as  soon  as  the  plants  are  strong  and 
hardy  enough.  An  outdoor  sowing  in  April  will  usually 
prove  successful,  but  if  the  season  should  be  a  late  one  the 
plants  so  raised  have  but  a  short  flowering  period.  Mentzelia 
Lindleyi  grows  i^  foot  high,  and  freely  produces  its  five- 
petalled  flowers,  which,  individually,  are  about  \\  inch 
across,  and  of  a  rich  golden-yellow  shade. 

NEMESIA 

The  Nemesias  have  jumped  into  popularity  chiefly  because 
Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons  saw  the  possibilities  of  N.  strumosa 
and  set  out  to  select  the  most  attractive  shades  of  colour  and 
improve  the  size  of  the  flowers  and  the  habit  of  growth. 
They  succeeded  beyond  expectations,  and  now  the  colour 
range  is  a  large  one,  and  seeds  are  offered  that  give  a  very 
high  percentage  true  to  the  special  colour  named.  The 
colours  have  been  separated  into  white,  pink,  yellow,  orange, 


70       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

scarlet,  crimson,  and  blue.  There  are  dwarf  strains  about  8 
inches  hi<»h,  the  large  flowered  sorts  being  about  i  foot  high. 
Nemesias  flower  with  great  freedom  and  form  elegant  little 
bushes.  For  bedding,  or  for  edging  large  beds,  the  Nemesias 
are  splendid,  and  a  mass  of  one  colour  or  of  similar  colours 
in  the  border  is  a  delight. 

The  garden  forms  of  Neniesia  stnimosa  {ScropJiiilariacecB) 
are  not  always  the  easiest  plants  to  raise  from  seeds,  that  is, 
they  germinate  freely  on  one  occasion  and  almost  fail  on 
another.  An  early  sowing  under  glass  may  not  give  good 
results,  while  a  sowing  in  a  shaded  border  at  the  end  of 
April  may  result  in  a  big  crop  of  seedlings.  A  temperature 
of  about  60"  seems  to  be  a  most  suitable  one  for  germina- 
tion, provided  the  seeds  are  gently  pressed  into  the  soil 
and  only  just  covered  with  the  tine  sandy  compost.  A  very 
important  point  is  to  sow  thinly  and  to  transplant  the  tiny 
seedlings  into  pans  or  boxes  as  early  as  possible.  Harden  off 
and  plant  out  in  May.  The  end  of  March  is  usually  quite 
early  enough  for  the  first  sowing ;  this  may  be  followed 
by  a  sowing  in  a  frame  and  anotiier  out-of-doors.  When 
planting  out  set  the  plants  6  or  8  inches  apart,  as  at  this 
distance  the  taller  strain  will  meet  and  form  a  mass  of  bright 
blossom. 

N.  bicontis,  2  feet,  purple  ;  N.  floribiinda,  i  foot,  white  ;  and 
N.  versicolor,  i  foot,  lilac  and  white,  are  other  Half-hardy 
Annual  species. 


NEMOPHILA 

'*  Californian  Bluebell" 

A  very  old  and  popular  favourite  is  Neviophila  insignis 
{Hydrophyllaceic),  a  plant  w^hich  was  rarely  absent  from  any 
garden,  large  or  small,  in  olden  days.  It  is  now  mostly  seen 
in  the  gardens  of  the  artisan  and  the  cottager  and  in  the 
smaller  villa  gardens,  where    it  gives  a  bright  and   plentiful 


NICOTIANA  71 

return  for  the  little  expense  and  time  given  it.  Though  of 
Calif  or  nian  origin  Nemophila  insignis  is  a  Hardy  Annual,  and 
the  earliest  flowers  are  produced  from  an  Autumn  sowing, 
though  this  should  always  be  followed  by  at  least  one  Spring 
sowing.  Seeds  are  nearly  always  sown  far  too  thickly,  with 
the  result  that  the  plants  are  rarely  allowed  to  do  themselves 
full  justice.  I  suppose  few  people  ever  thin  Nemophilas  to  i 
foot  apart ;  but  if  they  so  treated  them  a  pleasant  surprise 
would  follow  and  the  display  be  finer  and  more  lasting  than 
that  obtained  from  overcrowded  plants. 

The  grandiflora  strain  of  N.  insignis  has  larger  flowers 
than  the  type ;  blue,  with  white  centre,  is  the  commonest 
colour,  but  there  are  white,  rosy,  and  white  margined 
varieties.  N.  maculata,  6  inches,  white  and  purple,  is  good  ; 
and  N.  Menziesii,  6  inches  (the  N.  Atomaria  of  catalogues), 
may  be  white  with  black  spots,  or  blue  with  black  spots  and  a 
white  centre,  while  the  variety  discoidahs  is  dark  purple  with 
a  white  edge  to  each  petal. 

NICOTIANA 

"  Tobacco" 

In  the  genus  Nicotiana  {Solanacece)  there  are  several  plants 
of  rather  doubtful  Annual  duration,  notwithstanding  that  they 
are  catalogued  as  Half-hardy  Annuals  and  grown  as  such.  All 
those  mentioned  below  must  be  raised  in  heat  in  February 
or  March  to  prove  successful,  and  a  temperature  of  65°  is 
a  good  one  in  which  to  secure  germination.  The  seeds  are 
small,  and  there  is  consequently  a  need  for  care  in  sowing ; 
sow  thinly  on  the  level  surface  of  fine,  sandy  soil,  just 
pressing  the  seeds  in  and  dusting  them  over  with  a  little 
sand.  Prick  off  early,  harden  in  due  course,  and  plant  out 
at  the  end  of  May.  Tobacco  plants  appreciate  good  soil,  and 
they  are  of  little  use  if  grown  in  the  shade. 

One  of  the  best  known  is  Nicotiana  alaia  (syn.  N.  affinis), 


72       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

I  to  2  feet,  white,  long-tubed  flowers,  sweetly  scented  in  the 
evening  and  early  morning.  This  is  a  beautiful  and  highly 
desirable  plant  for  bedding  or  massing.  N.  colossea  and 
N.  colossea  variegata  are  fine  as  foliage  plants  for  sub-tropical 
effect,  as  they  have  big  leaves  and  grow  6  feet  high.  A^.  nocti- 
flora,  3  feet,  white  and  purple,  fragrant  at  night,  and  its  white 
variety,  arc  worth  attention.  N.  SandercB  is  a  hybrid,  3  feet, 
with  rosy  flowers,  but  the  shade  varies  considerably  ;  it  is  a 
free  flowering  and  useful  garden  or  greenhouse  plant,  and 
was  raised  by  crossing  A'',  rubra  with  N.  alata.  N.  sylvestris 
is  a  bold  plant,  rising  to  5  feet  high,  and  bearing  large,  deep 
green  leaves  and  tall  spikes  of  pendent  white  flowers.  N. 
Tabacum,  4  feet,  has  rosy  flowers  and  large  leaves  ;  it  is  the 
plant  from  which  commercial  Tobacco  is  obtained,  and  it  has 
some  value  in  the  garden  as  a  foliage  plant. 

NIGELLA 

"  Love-in-a-Mist " 

The  old  Nigella  damascena  {Ranunculacece),  with  its  finely 
divided,  F'ennel-Iike  foliage  veiling  the  blue  flowers,  has  been 
in  cultivation  for  over  three  hundred  years,  and  the  double 
form  has  long  been  a  favourite  plant.  The  way  in  which 
the  involucre  leaves  lightly  veil  the  flowers  has  given  rise 
to  such  curious  and  popular  names  as  Devil-in-the-Bush, 
Love-in-a-Mist,  and  Jack-in-Prison.  The  greatly  improved 
and  comparatively  new  variety  named  Miss  Jekyll  is  of 
better  habit  than  the  old  form,  and  its  double  flowers  are 
of  a  deep  blue  shade.  There  is  also  a  white  form  of  N. 
damascena. 

The  Nigellas  are  hardy,  and  the  finest  plants  are  usually 
produced  from  an  Autumn  sowing,  these  often  reaching  2  feet 
high,  and  forming  perfect  bushes.  Good  results  follow  a 
Spring  sowing  under  glass,  or  in  the  open  in  April.  None 
of  the  species   likes  transplanting,   therefore  from  a  sowing 


PLATE   VI 

SWEET  SCABIOUS 

{Scabiosa  atropurpurea) 


CENOTHERA  js 

under  glass  the  seedlings   should  be  transferred  to  pots  at 
an  early  stage. 

Besides  N.  daniascena,  there  are  N.  hispanica,  \\  foot, 
purplish-blue ;  N.  h.  alba,  with  white  flowers  and  brown 
anthers;  N.  orientalis,  \\  foot,  yellow  and  red,  but  of  little 
worth  ;  and  N.  sativus,  i|  foot,  blue,  also  of  little  value  in 
the  garden. 

(ENOTHERA 

"  Godetia  " 

Not  many  garden  plants  are  so  well  known  as  the  Hardy 
Annual  OEnotheras,  which,  under  their  better-known  name 
of  Godetias  {Onagi-acece),  are  to  be  found  in  most  gardens, 
whether  of  the  rich  or  the  poor.  The  many  beautiful 
varieties  are  delightful  subjects  for  giving  fine  colour 
effects,  and  their  value  for  massing  in  beds  or  borders 
can  hardly  be  overestimated.  Not  only  are  the  Godetias 
beautiful,  but  they  are  raised  with  the  greatest  of  ease 
either  from  a  September  sowing  out-of-doors,  a  Spring 
sowing  out-of-doors,  or  a  sowing  under  glass  in  March. 
Two  or  three  sowings  should  be  made  wherever  space 
permits,  so  as  to  secure  a  lengthened  flower  season.  Those 
who  have  not  seen  Autumn-raised  seedlings  duly  thinned 
and  planted  9  inches  or  i  foot  apart  in  rich,  light  soil  do 
not  fully  appreciate  the  capabilities  of  Godetias,  for,  alas, 
all  too  often  the  Spring-sown  plants  are  allowed  to  choke 
each  other,  and  short-lived  beauty  is  the  result.  It  is  a  rare 
sight  to  see  large  breadths  of  Godetias  grown  for  seed 
purposes  in  July  or  August,  and  a  long  border  filled  with 
them  in  blocks  of  one  colour  or  in  lines  of  a  colour  is  a 
revelation,  provided  ample  room  is  given  for  each  plant  to 
develop  properly,  and  the  seed  vessels  are  removed  regu- 
larly. 

CEnothera  amcena  is  the  species  from  which  the  garden 
varieties  have  been  raised  ;   it  is  i  foot  to  2   feet  high,  and 


76       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

the  flowers  are  rose-coloured  with  crimson  spots;  CE.  a. 
rubicunda  is  purpHsh  with  red  blotch.  The  best  named 
forms  are  Bridesmaid,  15  inches,  blue  and  rose  ;  Crimson  Gem 
or  Crimson  King,  18  inches,  crimson;  Crimson  Glow,  15 
inches,  rosy-crimson  ;  Duchess  of  Albany,  i  foot,  glistening 
white  ;  Duke  of  York,  i  foot,  blood  red  with  white  centre  ; 
General  Gordon,  i  foot,  rich  carmine  ;  Marchioness  of  Salis- 
bury, I  foot,  crimson  with  white  margin  ;  Ladybird,  i  foot, 
white  with  crimson  spots  ;  Lady  Satin  Rose,  i  foot,  rose- 
pink ;  Scarlet  Queen,  i  foot,  bright  crimson-scarlet.  There 
are  dwarf  forms  of  many  of  the  foregoing  varieties,  and 
these  are  from  6  to  9  inches  high,  useful  both  for  edging  or 
for  association  with  the  taller  sorts.  The  double  flowered 
Schaminii  is  a  grand  Godetia  of  sturdy  growth,  and  makes 
a  compact  and  yet  elegant  bush,  18  inches  high,  smothered 
with  shining,  delicate  rose-pink  flowers.  It  should  not  be 
omitted  fnmi  any  collection,  as  it  lasts  so  well  and  is  first 
rate  for  cutting,  for  beds,  for  borders,  and  also  for  pot 
culture.  There  are  now  double  or  semi -double  forms  with 
mauve  and  crimson  flowers.  CE.  Whitneyi  is  a  hardy 
Californian  Annual,  i^  foot  high,  rose-red  and  crimson;  of 
this  there  are  white,  crimson,  and  crimson-scarlet  varieties, 
and  one  named  Lord  Roberts  is  carmine,  shading  to  deep 
crimson. 

OMPHALODES 

"  Venus s  Navel-wort" 

Omphalodes  linifolia  {Boraginacece)  is  a  charming  little 
Hardy  Annual,  and  one  that  lends  itself  to  cultivation  in  a 
shady  and  rather  moist  spot.  In  most  Rock  gardens  a  place 
can  be  found  for  it,  and  here  it  will  reproduce  itself  readily 
from  self-sown  seeds.  From  6  to  12  inches  high,  with 
narrow  grey-green  foliage  and  white  flowers,  it  is  a  pretty 
subject,  and  one  that  merits  wider  consideration. 


PAPAVER  ^^ 

PAPAVER 

''Poppy" 

Notwithstanding  the  wonderful  range  of  form  and  colour 
found  in  annual  Poppies  i^PapaveracecE),  there  are  really 
very  few  annual  species.  The  two  from  which  the  garden 
varieties  have  descended  are  P.  somniferum,  the  bold, 
glaucous-leaved  Opium  Poppy,  with  whitish  flowers ;  and 
P.  Rheas,  our  wild  red  Poppy.  Other  annual  species,  all 
hardy,  are  P.  glaucum,  2  feet,  vivid  scarlet — The  Tulip 
Poppy  ;  P.  pavonium,  i|  foot,  scarlet  and  black  ;  P.  Icevigatum, 
2  feet,  scarlet,  white,  and  black  ;  and  P.  umbrosum,  2  feet, 
deep  red  and  black. 

The  Poppies  are  among  the  easiest  plants  to  grow,  but 
in  most  cases  the  fine  seeds  are  sown  90  per  cent,  too 
thickly,  the  thinning  is  done  half-heartedly,  and  the  results 
are  poor  as  compared  with  what  they  ought  to  be.  The 
Shirley  Poppies,  raised  originally  by  the  Rev.  W.  Wilks 
from  a  wild  form  of  P.  Rheas,  are  too  often  spoiled  because 
the  plants  are  crowded,  and  so  flower  poorly  and  last  only 
a  short  time  when  the  weather  is  bright.  The  seeds  need 
but  the_  merest  covering  of  soil,  and  as  Poppies  do  not 
transplant  satisfactorily,  the  sowing  must  be  made  where  the 
plants  are  to  flower.  The  seedlings  should  be  thinned  as 
early  as  possible  to  not  less  than  i  foot  apart  for  the 
Shirley  and  similar  varieties,  allowing  a  greater  space  for 
the  big  double  and  single  varieties  of  P.  somniferum. 

Shirley  Poppies  range  from  pure  white  to  deepest 
crimson,  and  they  are  extremely  graceful  and  beautiful.  If 
the  flowers  are  cut  just  as  the  buds  begin  to  open  they  are 
very  valuable  for  home  decoration,  as  they  speedily  expand  in 
water,  but  if  they  are  not  so  treated  they  fall  to  pieces  quickly. 

Danebrog  or  Victoria  Cross,  White  Swan,  Mikado, 
Mephisto,  Cardinal,  and  Mauve  Queen  are  names  given  to 
remarkably  fine  varieties  of  P.  somniferum ;  these  grow  2  feet 


78       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

high,  and  range  from   white  to  intense  crimson,  and  some 
are  double  and  exquisitely  fringed. 

PERILLA 

One  member  of  this  family  is  fairly  well  known  in  gardens 
because  it  has  for  a  long  time  been  a  favourite  with  those 
seeking  striking  effects  by  means  of  foliage.  Perilla  ocimoides 
crispa  {Labiatece)  is  best  known  as  P.  nankinensis.  The 
flowers  are  of  no  service,  but  the  dark  blackish-purple  leaves 
serve  to  throw  into  sharp  relief  the  lighter  and  brighter 
flowers  in  the  formal  F^lower  garden.  Raised  in  heat  in 
February  or  March  it  rapidly  reaches  a  good  size,  and  when 
hardened  off  in  the  usual  way  it  is  ready  for  planting  in 
early  June. 

PHACELIA 

The  most  popular  Phacelia  {HydropJiyilacea)  is  P.  cam- 
panulaiia,  a  neat  little  Annual  from  California,  about  8  inches 
high,  bearing  a  profusion  of  broadly  bell-shaped  flowers 
of  the  richest  shade  of  blue.  This  is  an  effective  plant, 
and  suitable  for  edging  beds  or  borders.  There  is  an  early 
flowering  form  with  rosy  flowers  known  as  P.  c.  ccesta.  P. 
divaricata,  i  foot,  violet  ;  P.  Menziesii,  i  foot,  purple  ;  P. 
Parry i,  8  inches,  violet ;  P.  tanacetifolia,  2  feet,  rose  ;  P. 
Whitlavia  (syn.  Whitlavia  grandijlora),  i  foot,  violet,  very 
free  blooming ;  and  P.  viscida  (syn.  Eutoca  viscida),  6  to 
15  inches,  violet  and  blue,  are  other  species,  and  the  last 
two  are  of  considerable  merit. 

Sow  seeds  in  April  where  the  plants  are  to  flower,  and 
thin  the  seedlings  to  6  inches  apart. 

PHLOX 

The  large  genus  Phlox  {Polemoniacecr)  contains  but  one 
annual  species  of  note,  and  this  is/*.  Drummofidii {sg.q  Plate  I), 
a  general  favourite  and  an  easily-grown  plant.     Drummond's 


POLYGONUM  79 

Phlox  was  introduced  from  Texas  in  1835,  and,  being  a 
Half-hardy  Annual,  it  lent  itself  readily  to  the  process  of 
selection.  The  red-flowered  type  was  soon  made  to  yield 
other  colours,  until  now  there  are  white,  salmon,  crimson, 
scarlet,  purple,  rose,  and  buff  strains  that  come  wonderfully 
true.  In  some  strains  the  flowers  are  extra  large,  in  others 
the  plants  are  dwarf,  and  in  others  the  flowers  are  stellate. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  that  P.  Drummondii  is  now  a  host  in 
itself,  providing  a  wide  range  of  form  and  colour. 

Sown  in  gentle  heat  in  March  or  April,  the  seeds  soon 
germinate,  and  the  seedlings  must  be  placed  in  boxes  as 
soon  as  possible  and  given  sufficient  room  to  make  sturdy 
plants.  Hardening  off  is  an  easy  matter,  and  should  be 
carried  out  so  that  the  plants  are  ready  for  planting  in 
early  June.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  pinch  out  the  central  point 
when  the  plants  are  quite  young  to  ensure  a  bushier  growth, 
and  it  is  also  desirable  that  the  growths  be  pegged  down 
at  intervals  after  the  plants  are  growing  freely  out-of-doors. 
Phlox  Drummondii  to  a  large  extent  takes  the  place  once 
occupied  by  Verbenas,  though  the  latter  are  again  coming  into 
favour.  As  pot  plants,  and  for  window  boxes,  these  Phloxes 
are  well  adapted,  while  for  bedding  and  edging  they  have  few 
rivals. 

POLYGONUM 

"  Knot  Grass  " 

One  member  only  of  this  large  family  is  an  Annual,  and 
a  hardy  one  at  that.  This  is  Polygonum  orientale  {Polygonacecs), 
of  branching,  bushy  habit,  about  4  feet  high,  but  capable 
of  reaching  much  higher  if  planted  in  rich  soil  and  given 
a  sunny  position.  It  does  very  well  when  sown  in  the 
open  in  April,  but  if  large  plants  are  needed  for  sub-tropical 
effects  then  the  seeds  are  best  sown  in  heat  in  March  and 
the  plants  potted,  hardened  off  and  planted  out  in  early 
June.     If  plenty  of  room  is  afforded  for  development  and 


8o       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

water  is  given  freely  in  dry  weather,  the  plants  grow  very 
large  and  produce  quantities  of  their  semi-pendulous  spike- 
lets  of  rosy-purple  or  white  flowers. 

PORTULACA 

^^  Purslane" 

Needing  and  loving  the  sunshine,  the  Portulacas  are  not 
a  success  in  a  wet  or  dull  season,  and,  as  we  cannot  expect 
all  our  summers  to  be  hot  and  bright,  it  is  necessary  to 
grow  this  family  of  brilliant  Annuals  on  the  hottest  site  in 
the  garden,  and  in  sandy  soil.  Such  a  position  will  suit  them 
at  all  times,  though  it  is  only  in  the  warmest  and  driest 
seasons  that  the  Portulacas  {Portulacacece)  do  themselves  full 
justice  ;  at  their  best  hardly  any  plants  are  more  gay  than  they. 
P.  grandiflora,  6  inches,  purple  and  yellow,  is  the  species 
which  seedsmen  have  worked  upon,  and  now  yellow,  white, 
and  scarlet  strains  are  offered  ;  but  mixed  colours  are  so 
good  and  offer  no  offensive  combinations,  that  it  is  hardly 
worth  while  to  keep  the  colours  distinct  unless  there  is 
a  special  end  in  view.  Sow  in  the  open  in  April  and  thin 
to  6  inches  apart,  or  sow  in  heat  in  March  and  plant  6 
inches  apart  in  May  or  June. 

RESEDA 

"  MigJionette  " 

Fragrant  and  popular  as  is  the  Mignonette  it  is  not 
sufficiently  well  known  that  there  are  a  considerable  number 
of  distinct  varieties  of  Reseda  odorata  {Resedacea)  differing 
in  colour,  in  habit,  and  in  height.  In  most  gardens  Mig- 
nonette will  grow  fairly  well,  in  a  few  it  grows  remarkably 
well,  while  in  others  it  is  with  difficulty  persuaded  to  grow 
at  all.  Where  it  is  more  or  less  a  failure  a  good  appli- 
cation of  lime,  or  finely  crushed  mortar  rubble,  should  be 


SALPIGLOSSIS  8i 

mixed  with  the  soil  before  sowing,  and  more  than  likely 
this  sweetly  scented  Hardy  Annual  will  show  its  appreciation 
of  the  addition  by  thriving. 

There  are  few  places  in  a  garden  where  Mignonette 
would  be  out  of  place,  and  it  ought  to  be  sown  freely  in 
patches  in  flower  and  shrubbery  borders,  on  banks  or  old 
walls,  as  well  as  in  beds  and  in  the  small  amount  of  soil 
that  finds  a  place  at  the  foot  of  a  wall  between  it  and  the 
flagstones.  The  several  varieties  should  be  sown  separately, 
otherwise  the  stronger  growers  will  crowd  out  the  smaller 
sorts.  As  a  pot  plant  Mignonette  is  deservedly  popular,  the 
Machet  variety  being  largely  used  in  this  way  for  Winter 
or  early  Spring  flowering,  but  all  the  varieties  make  capital 
specimens  if  one  plant  is  grown  in  a  48  or  32-sized  pot 
and  the  growths  are  pinched  at  an  early  stage  to  induce 
a  bushy  habit. 

Machet,  deep  red  ;  Bismarck,  large,  and  deep  red ;  Cloth 
of  Gold,  yellow ;  Pearl,  creamy-white ;  Mile's  Spiral,  buff  ; 
Tom  Thumb,  reddish-buff  ;  Red  King  or  Red  Giant,  dark 
red ;  Nineteen  Hundred,  small,  free,  bright  yellow ;  and 
Perfection,  deep  red,  are  all  excellent  varieties. 

Reseda  alba,  2  feet,  white  ;  and  R.  luteola,  i  foot,  yellow, 
are  other  species,  but  they  do  not  compare  favourably  with 
the  garden  varieties  of  R.  odorata  for  garden  decoration. 

SALPIGLOSSIS 

A  rare  Orchid  bloom  can  scarcely  exceed  the  wonderful 
beauty  of  colouring  and  the  exquisite  veining  of  a  Salpi- 
glossis  [SolanacecB),  though  the  latter  loses  points  when  lasting 
properties  are  considered.  For  my  own  part  I  love  brilliant 
colouring  in  the  garden,  and  so  the  many  golden  Composite 
flowers,  the  Salpiglossis  and  the  Zinnias,  appeal  strongly 
to  me.  Salpiglossis  sinuata  is  an  elegant  plant,  the  flowers  are 
large  and  varied  in  colour,  and  they  never  fail  to  excite 
admiration.      Unquestionably  the    Salpiglossis,  as   now  im- 

F 


82       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

proved  l)y  our  seedsmen,  must  stand  in  the  front  rank  of 
choice  Annuals.  I  have  tried  repeatedly,  but  without  success, 
to  cross  the  Salpi^lossis  with  the  garden  strains  of  Petunias, 
these  latter  bein^  closely  allied  and  of  little  more  than  annual 
duration. 

The  colours  found  in  Salpiglossis  are  pale  yellow,  deep 
gold,  red,  crimson,  scarlet,  rose,  carmine,  blue,  purple,  and 
violet.  In  some  catalogues  certain  colours  are  offered  separ- 
ately, and  in  others  named  varieties  are  listed,  but  a  first- 
rate  mixed  strain  is  quite  good  for  bedding  purposes,  though 
the  separate  colours  are  perhaps  the  best  for  pot  culture. 
Sow  the  seeds  thinly  in  moderate  heat,  about  65°,  and  cover 
them  lightly.  Early  transference  of  the  seedlings  to  pots 
or  boxes  is  essential  to  the  best  results.  Use  rich,  light  soil, 
harden  off  the  plants,  and  plant  out  early  in  June,  selecting 
an  open  and  sunny  site,  A  good  bed  of  Salpiglossis  is  a 
thing  of  beauty  and  a  joy  for  a  long  time  in  a  fairly  good 
summer. 

A  few  light,  twiggy  sticks  set  among  the  plants  will  serve 
to  prevent  damage  from  winds  and  heavy  rains,  and  if  they 
are  not  more  than  15  or  18  inches  high  they  will  not  be 
noticeable  at  flowering  time. 

SAPONARIA 

"  Soapwort" 

Two  species  of  Saponaria  {CaryophyllacecB)  are  Hardy 
Annuals,  and  the  closely-tufted  habit  of  6".  calabrica  renders 
it  a  useful  subject  for  the  Rock  garden  or  for  edging.  Sown 
in  Autumn,  the  white  and  rosy-carmine  varieties  are  fine  for 
Spring  flowering,  while  Spring  sowings  flower  later.  S. 
Vaccaria  is  2  feet  high,  and  has  rose-pink  flowers,  but  there  is 
also  a  white  variety.  Varieties  of  S.  Vaccaria  have  a  graceful 
habit  and  are  useful  for  cutting,  hence  a  September  and  an 
April  sowing  should  be  made.  Thin  S.  calabrica  to  4  inches 
apart,  and  S.  Vaccaria  to  i  foot  apart. 


SCABIOUS  83 


SCABIOUS 

"  Sweet  Scabious  " 

The  double-flowered  Scabious  (see  Plate  VI)  are  among 
the  most  useful  of  plants  for  borders  or  for  cutting. 
They  are  not  so  double  as  to  be  heavy,  the  colours  are 
good  and  the  stems  wiry,  consequently  the  blooms  are 
highly  serviceable  for  indoor  decoration.  Messrs.  Dobbie  and 
Co.  have  developed  a  particularly  fine-flowered  and  robust 
strain  that  is  far  in  advance  of  the  older  forms,  and  it  lacks 
nothing  in  variety  of  colour.  The  latter  ranges  from  white 
through  yellow  shades,  pink,  salmon,  lilac,  blue,  and  rose, 
to  scarlet,  purple,  and  the  darkest  crimson.  These  Sweet 
Scabious  have  been  evolved  from  the  South  European 
Scabiosa  atropurpurea  {Dipsacece).  Other  annual  species  are  : 
5.  brachiata,  2  feet,  various  (syn.  5.  palcEstmd)  ;  5.  stellata, 
if  foot,  pink  or  white. 

An  outdoor  sowing  in  April  will  produce  plants  for  late 
flowering,  but  the  best  method  is  to  raise  a  stock  in  gentle 
heat  in  early  March  and  plant  out  in  May,  The  Scabious 
like  a  deep  rich  soil,  and  if  placed  a  foot  or  more  apart  they 
will  branch  freely  and  continue  to  flower  all  the  season. 
One  slender  stake  to  each  plant  will  provide  ample  support 
against  winds  and  heavy  rains. 

SCHIZANTHUS 

*' Butterfly  Flower" 

Although  the  Schizanthuses  {Solanacece)  are  either  Hardy 
or  Half-hardy  Annuals  they  are  not  often  a  great  success  in 
the  open  garden.  As  conservatory  or  greenhouse  plants 
they  occupy  a  high  position,  and  the  fine  selections  brought 
forward  in  recent  years  have  done  much  to  make  the  plants 
popular.     This  is  not  the  place  to  consider  their  merits  as 


84       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

indoor  phmts,  and  so  attention  must  be  confined  to  those 
which  may  be  of  service  in  the  Flower  garden.  In  the 
Southern  counties  the  garden-raised  strains  of  both  5.  pin- 
natus  and  S.  rctusus  do  very  well  in  a  warm  position,  and 
when  they  carry  an  abundance  of  dainty,  butterfiy-like 
blossoms,  bright  with  white,  purple,  blue,  red  and  yellow 
colouring,  they  are  very  attractive.  S.  Grahamii  is  a  sturdy 
grower,  with  carmine  and  orange  flowers,  and  S.  Wise- 
tonensis  is  a  shapely  grower  that  is  immensely  popular  as 
a  pot  plant,  and  is  said  to  be  useful  for  the  garden  if  raised 
from  seeds  sown  in  a  temperature  of  about  60°  in  February 
or  Marcli.  The  other  kinds  mentioned  must  all  be  raised 
in  moderate  heat  in  March  if  they  are  to  be  a  success  in  the 
garden  during  the  Sununer. 


SCHIZOPETALON 

A  plant  that  vies  with  the  Mignonette  for  sweet  fragrance 
is  Schizopctalon  Walkeri  {Cruci/erce).  This  little  Chilian 
plant  is  about  i  foot  high,  and  has  white,  four-petalled 
flowers  that  give  forth  their  fragrance  mostly  in  the 
evening,  in  the  morning,  or  after  a  shower  of  rain.  As 
with  Mignonette,  this  Annual  should  be  sown  wherever 
there  is  a  spare  space,  and  several  sowings  during  the  Spring 
and  early  Summer  will  keep  up  a  supply  of  flowers  and 
fragrance. 

SENECIO 

Grou  ?idsel — Jacobaea 

A  South  African  member  of  the  Groundsel  family,  and  one 
that  is  used  freely  for  the  decoration  of  some  parks  and 
gardens  in  Summer,  is  Senecio  degaiis  {Composite^).  This  is  a 
capital  bedding  plant  about  i  foot  high,  and  is  specially  useful 
because  it  produces  its  heads  of  double  flowers  continuously 


SILENE  85 

all  through  the  season.  In  a  moist  season  the  plants  may 
reach  i|  foot  high,  but  the  dwarf  strain  offered  will  rarely 
exceed  8  inches.  The  colours  available  are  white,  pink, 
salmon,  purple,  carmine,  and  crimson,  and  these  are  some- 
times offered  separately,  though  a  popular  method  is  to 
obtain  a  packet  of  mixed  colours,  and  bed  out  the  seedlings 
in  May,  putting  them  6  inches  apart.  Seeds  sown  in  the 
open  in  April  or  May  flower  rather  late,  therefore  it  is  better 
to  make  a  sowing  in  a  warm  greenhouse  in  March.  These 
double  Senecios  are  first  rate  for  cutting,  as  they  are  pretty 
and  long  lasting. 

SILENE 

"  Catchfly  " — "  Campion  " 

Some  eighteen  species  of  Silene  {Caryophyllace(B)  are  Hardy 
Annuals,  but  only  S.  pendula  and  its  many  varieties  need  be 
seriously  considered  for  garden  decoration.  All  are  splendid 
for  Spring  displays,  and  their  usefulness  is  fully  understood  by 
lovers  of  Rock  gardens  and  by  those  who  desire  a  carpeting 
plant  for  bulbs.  Most  of  the  varieties  have  double  flowers, 
and  the  colour  may  be  white,  rose,  pink,  or  red.  The  com- 
pacta  strain  is  the  best  for  bedding  arrangements,  and  such 
named  sorts  as  Empress  of  India,  rosy-crimson ;  Peach 
Blossom,  pink  ;  and  Snow  Queen,  white,  are  all  of  the  greatest 
beauty.  Another  excellent  form  is  Bonnetti,  deep  rose,  with 
dark  stems  and  foliage,  while  Bijou  is  a  lovely  shade  of  pink, 
with  glaucous  leafage.  Outdoor  sowings  are  by  far  the 
best,  and  for  Spring  flowering  August  or  September  is  the 
time  to  sow,  while  an  April  sowing  will  give  a  late  Summer 
display.  As  the  Silenes  continue  to  blossom  for  a  con- 
siderable period  and  provide  much  variety  of  colour, 
they  form  an  exceedingly  useful  and  beautiful  group  of 
flowers.  About  6  inches  apart  is  a  good  distance  to  plant. 
Autumn-raised  seedlings  should  not  be  put  into  rich  soil,  or 


86       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

they  may  suffer  harm  during  the  Winter,  or  make  growth  at 
the  expense  of  flowers. 

5.  gallica,  \\  foot,  pink,  is  another  annual  species  of 
some  merit. 

SPECULARIA 
"  Corn  Violet" 

Closely  allied  to  the  Campanulas  are  the  low-growing 
Specularias  {Cavipanulacecs).  They  are  of  spreading  habit, 
rarely  exceeding  a  foot  in  height,  and  yield  bell-shaped 
flowers.  All  are  hardy,  and  best  raised  by  sowing  in  Septem- 
ber where  the  plants  are  to  flower.  The  Rock  garden  pro- 
vides a  pleasant  home  for  them,  and  they  are  then  seen  to 
advantage.  The  chief  species  are  S./aicata,  i  foot,  blue;  5. 
hybrida,  6  to  i2  inches,  lilac  or  blue;  S.  pentagonia,  i  foot, 
deep  blue;  S. per/oliata,  i  foot,  purplish-blue;  and  the  pretty 
S.  Speculum,  i  foot,  of  which  there  are  white  and  rich  purple 
varieties. 

STATICE 
"  Sea  Lavender  " 

Not  only  are  the  Half-hardy  Sea  Lavenders  {PluvibagifiecB) 
good  for  garden  decoration  when  planted  in  masses,  but 
the  flower  spikes  are  elegant  for  filling  vases,  and  if  cut  and 
suspended  head  downwards  until  dry  they  are  available  for 
Winter  use  when  flowers  are  none  too  plentiful.  In  some 
districts  these  annual  Statices  are  grown  in  large  quantities  for 
the  cut  flower  markets.  They  all  delight  in  a  fairly  light  soil 
containing  plenty  of  grit,  and  leaf-mould  or  peat.  The  best 
way  to  manage  them  is  to  sow  the  seeds  in  fine,  sandy  soil, 
merely  covering  them,  in  February  or  March,  placing  them 
in  a  temperature  of  about  6o°  to  germinate.  Prick  off  into 
other  boxes,  harden  gradually,  and  plant  them  in  the  flowering 
quarters  in  May.  The  distinct  appearance  of  the  Statices 
always  attracts  attention. 


TAGETES  87 

The  best  species  are  S.  Bonduellii,  15  inches,  yellow ;  S. 
Suworowii,  15  inches,  pink  or  lilac  ;  and  6".  sinuata,  2  feet, 
lavender  ;  this  latter  species  has  a  white  variety  named  can- 
didissima,  and  mixed  colours  are  listed  as  mixed  hybrids. 


TAGETES 

^^  African  Marigold" — *^ French  Marigold" 

The  African  and  French  Marigolds  {Composites)  are  glorious 
plants,  though  they  are  not  agreeable  to  handle  owing  to  the 
unpleasant  odour  of  the  leaves  and  stems  when  rubbed  ;  they 
are  so  showy  and  easily  grown  that  they  are  absent  from 
few  gardens.  In  the  North  of  England  and  in  most  parts  of 
Scotland  they  are  especial  favourites,  and  almost  every  ex- 
hibition in  the  North  makes  provision  for  both  kinds,  and 
keen  competitions  follow.  In  the  Tyneside  district  extra- 
ordinary pains  are  taken  to  bring  the  flowers  to  perfection 
for  exhibition  purposes,  the  operations  of  shading,  protection, 
and  thinning  being  as  carefully  considered  as  they  are  in 
the  case  of  exhibition  Dahlias. 

For  garden  decoration  the  brilliance  of  the  flowers  compels 
admiration.  The  French  strains  derived  from  the  Mexican 
species  Tagetes  patula  are  first  rate  for  edging  large  beds  or 
borders,  or  for  a  groundwork  under  a  thin  planting  of  taller 
plants.  Legion  of  Honour  is  one  of  the  very  best  varieties  ;  it 
is  about  I  foot  high,  bushy  and  compact,  the  florets  broad  and 
regular,  and  the  colour  golden-yellow  with  a  large  mark  of 
velvety  maroon  on  each.  The  other  single  varieties  have  some 
merit,  but  are  a  long  way  behind  Legion  of  Honour  for  effect 
and  lasting  beauty.  The  double  varieties  are  now  very 
popular,  and  the  self-coloured  flowers,  or  those  with  a  maroon 
stripe  down  each  golden  floret,  or  with  golden  margins  to 
maroon  florets,  are  attractive. 

African  Marigolds  have  descended  from  Tagetes  erecta. 
They   are  bold    plants   with   big,   massive,   double    flowers. 


88       PRESENT-DAV    GARDENING 

Some  strains  are  about  ih  foot  high,  but  the  majority  of 
the  finer  forms  grow  3  feet  high,  and  a  good  specimen  will 
be  2  feet  through  ;  these  figures  will  serve  as  a  guide  for 
planting.  The  best  of  the  African  varieties  are  Prince  of 
Orange,  deep  orange-yellow;  and  Lemon  Queen,  lemon- 
yellow  ;  both  brought  to  great  perfection  by  Messrs.  Dobbie 
and  Co. 

Both  African  and  P'rench  Marigolds  must  be  sown  in  a 
temperature  of  6o°-65°in  March  or  early  April  to  be  a  success. 
The  young  plants  need  a  fair  amount  of  heat  until  making 
good  progress,  when  the  work  of  gradually  hardening  them 
off  should  begin,  so  that  by  the  beginning  of  June  they  are 
sturdy  examples,  ready  to  plant  out.  While  the  African 
Marigolds  delight  in  a  rich  soil,  the  French  sorts  are  best 
placed  in  rather  poor  soil,  but  both  are  garden  forms  of 
Mexican  plants,  and  therefore  are  of  small  value  unless 
planted  in  a  warm  and  sunny  position. 

Other  Tagetes  of  some  value  for  garden  decoration  are  T. 
lucida,  I  foot,  yellow,  known  as  the  Mexican  Marigold,  and 
T.  signata,  i\  foot,  yellow.  A  dwarf  variety  of  T.  signata  is 
known  as  pumila. 

TROPAEOLUM 

"  Nasturtium  " 

Common  as  the  Tropaeolums  undoubtedly  are,  in  the  sense 
that  they  are  known  to  every  one  and  found  in  the  child's 
garden  in  a  backyard  as  well  as  in  the  largest  public  and 
private  gardens  in  the  land,  they  are  not  to  be  despised. 
Whether  the  tall  or  the  dwarf  sorts  are  considered  there  is 
great  variety  in  the  colouring  and  markings  of  the  flowers,  as 
well  as  in  the  colour  of  the  foliage,  this  latter  variation  being 
most  marked  in  the  dwarf  varieties.  Nothing  is  more  easily 
grown,  and  few  plants  give  such  a  bright  display  for  such  a 
small  outlay  of  time,  care,  and  expense.     In  1910  I  distributed 


PLATE   VII 

DWARF   SUNFLOWERS 

(Stella  variety  of  Helianthus  annuus) 


TROPAEOLUM 


91 


seeds  of  a  dozen  or  fifteen  varieties  along  a  rather  dry  border 
containing  bulbs ;  the  seeds  were  placed  about  10  inches 
apart,  and  each  variety  occupied  a  run  of  about  three  yards. 
My  son,  aetat.  ten,  amused  himself  by  pushing  each  seed 
from  one  to  two  inches  deep  in  the  soil,  and  this  method  of 
sowing  was  followed  by  a  rough  raking  over.  The  result  was 
excellent,  and  the  display  was  a  brilliant  one  right  up  to  the 
first  frost,  for  the  outlay  of  a  few  pence.  Germination  is  so 
certain  that  there  is  no  need  to  sow  thickly,  indeed  such  a 
proceeding  is  a  waste  of  time  and  money. 

Tropaeolum  minus  {Geraniacece)  is  the  parent  of  the  dwarf 
Nasturtiums — and  it  is  as  Nasturtiums  that  the  plants  are  best 
known.  Listed  as  Tom  Thumb  varieties,  the  following  are 
all  meritorious :  Aurora,  buff,  pink,  and  carmine  ;  Crystal 
Palace  Gem,  yellow  and  maroon  ;  Cloth  of  Gold,  yellow,  with 
golden-green  foliage ;  Coeruleum  Roseum,  rose  with  bluish 
shade ;  Empress  of  India,  crimson-scarlet,  dark  foliage ; 
Chameleon,  yellow,  to  soft  crimson ;  King  Theodore,  dark 
crimson ;  Ladybird,  scarlet  and  yellow ;  Pearl,  creamy- 
white  ;  Scarlet  King, vivid  scarlet;  Fire  King,  orange-scarlet; 
Ruby  King,  ruby-red  ;  and  Vesuvius,  orange  and  crimson. 
The  Lilliput  race  forms  dainty  little  bushes,  and  gives 
flowers  of  various  colours.  Messrs.  Stark  &  Son,  Great 
Ryburgh,  have  brought  a  variegated-leaved  race  of  dwarfs  to 
perfection,  and  these  have  flowers  of  several  bright  shades  ; 
the  variegation  is  distinct  and  attractive. 

The  tall  or  cHmbing  varieties  have  descended  from 
Tropaeolum  maj'us,  and  they  are  valuable  for  quickly  covering 
fences,  screens,  arches  and  similar  structures,  and  look  well 
when  several  are  planted  together  to  form  a  clump,  pea  sticks 
being  used  for  their  support.  Some  of  the  leading  varieties 
are  :  Black  Prince,  deep  crimson,  dark  foliage  ;  Crimson  and 
Gold,  pale  yellow  and  gold,  with  spots  of  crimson  ;  Fairy 
Queen,  pink  and  yellow  ;  Salmon  Queen,  salmon-pink  ;  Pearl, 
cream-white  ;  Ruby  King,  ruby-red  ;  and  Sunlight,  yellow. 


92       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

T.  Lobbianum  has  also  given  a  number  of  attractive  climb- 
ing varieties,  of  more  refined  appearance  than  the  T.  majus 
varieties,  and  most  of  these  have  Ivy-like  leafage.  Some  of 
the  best  are :  Brilliant,  deep  scarlet ;  Crown  Prince  of 
Prussia,  blood-red  and  maroon  ;  Defiance,  scarlet  ;  Lucifer, 
scarlet  ;  Regina,  salmon  and  crimson  ;  Golden  Gem,  yellow  ; 
Rosy  Queen,  rose  ;  and  Spitfire,  vermilion. 

The  ever  popular  Canary  Creeper,  with  its  elegant  leafage 
and  hosts  of  little  Canary-like  blooms,  is  a  beautiful  climber, 
and  it  is  doubtful  whether  any  annual  climber  can  compare 
with  it  for  usefulness  and  beauty.  It  is  Tropaeolum  aduncum 
(syn.  T.  peregrttium),  or  the  T.  canariense  of  gardens. 

Tropaeolums  grow  rampantly  in  rich,  moist  soil,  but  in 
such  conditions  leaf  and  stem  are  produced  at  the  expense 
of  flowers,  or  the  leaf  stems  are  so  long  and  the  leaf  blades 
so  br(nid  that  they  quite  overshadow  the  blooms.  It  there- 
fore becomes  necessary  to  grow  Tropaeolums  in  rather  poorer 
soil  and  to  give  them  a  bright  position  and  a  fairly  dry  one 
if  the  most  brilliant  results  are  desired.  All  the  foregoing 
are  Half-hardy  in  the  sense  that  they  cannot  stand  frost,  but 
in  another  sense  they  are  Hardy,  for  every  one  knows  that 
self-sown  seeds  will  survive  the  Winter  and  produce  plants 
the  following  Spring,  rarely  appearing  until  danger  from  frost 
is  over. 

ZINNIA 
''  Youth  and  Age" 

At  the  end  of  this  list  of  Annuals  come  the  Zinnias ; 
but  though  last  they  are  by  no  means  least  in  order  of  merit, 
for  they  possess  a  brilliance  and  beauty  that  places  them  in 
the  front  rank  for  garden  ornamentation.  Either  for  beds 
or  for  groups  in  the  mixed  border  the  Zinnias  {Cojnpositce) 
are  first  class.  The  flower  heads  of  the  fine  strains  of  double 
Zinnias  (see  Plate  VIII)  are  a  trifle  formal,  it  must  be  con- 
fessed, but  they  are   none  the  less  handsome.     Well-grown 


LESS    VALUABLE    ANNUALS       93 

Zinnias  are  a  credit  to  any  one,  and  if  the  season  is  a  fairly 
bright  one  they  will  succeed  under  reasonable  care,  if  a  sunny 
position  is  assigned  them,  and  they  are  raised  in  February  or 
March  in  a  temperature  of  60°  and  quickly  transplanted 
into  boxes  or  a  bed  in  a  frame,  there  to  grow  and  harden 
ready  for  planting  out  in  early  June. 

The  species  from  which  the  garden  race  of  Zinnias  has 
come  is  Z.  elegans.  The  colours  available  are  white,  cream, 
yellow,  salmon,  rose,  scarlet,  vermilion,  purplish-red,  and 
crimson.  All  the  shades  associate  so  well  in  a  bed  that  it  is 
not  necessary  to  keep  the  colours  separate  unless  there  is  a 
colour  scheme  in  view.  In  the  "  grandiflora  "  strain  the  flowers 
measure  3  inches  across,  and  the  plants  bearing  them  grow 
about  2  feet  to  i\  feet  high.  Z.  Haageana,  i\  foot,  -orange- 
yellow  ;  and  Z.  tenuifolia,  2  feet,  red,  are  also  worthy  of 
cultivation. 

Zinnias  love  rich  soil  and  a  bright,  warm  position.  It 
frequently  happens  that  they  fail  because  they  are  starved 
as  seedlings,  and  planted  out  too  early.  Eight  inches  to  a 
foot  apart  is  a  good  distance  at  which  to  plant.  Planted 
in  rich  soil,  on  a  slightly  sloping  bank  facing  to  the  south, 
Zinnias  can  be  grown  with  gratifying  success. 


CHAPTER  IV 
ANNUALS  OF  LESS  GARDEN  VALUE 

AMMOBIUM 

"  Everlasting  Sandflozver  " 

Ammobium  alatum  is  a  Half-hardy  Annual  from  Australia ; 
it  belongs  to  the  Order  Composites,  and  is  one  of  the  "  Ever- 
lasting "  flowers.  The  yellow  blooms  are  borne  on  stems 
from  I  foot  to  2  feet  high,  and  are  of  papery  texture;  A.  a. 


94        PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

grajtdiflorum  is  a  finer  form  than  the  type,  the  flowers  being 
larger  and  of  a  purer  white  ;  A.  plantagineuni  is  not  so  tall  as 
the  foregoing  species,  but  its  flowers  are  also  white.  Seeds 
should  be  sown  in  sandy  soil  in  a  temperature  of  from  60°  to 
65°  during  March,  and  after  the  seedlings  have  been  pricked 
off  into  boxes  and  duly  hardened,  a  sunny  position  should  be 
found  for  them  out-of-doors. 

ANAGALLIS 

"  Piiupcnicl" 

Several  of  the  Pimpernels  have  brightly  coloured  flowers, 
and  the  plants  are  of  the  easiest  culture.  They  may  be  raised 
in  a  warm  spot  out-of-doors  if  sown  in  March  or  April,  or 
under  glass,  as  though  Half-hardy,  from  a  sowing  made 
in  March  in  a  temperature  of  60°. 

Of  the  native  A.  ai-vensis  there  are  several  varieties  ;  the 
type  has  small,  red  flowers,  while  A.  a.  coerulea  has  blue 
flowers  ;  A.  latifolia  (syn.  A.  indica)  is  larger  than  A.  arvensis, 
of  trailing  habit,  and  bearing  very  attractive  bright  blue 
flowers.  The  Pimpernel  so  frequently  listed  as  A.  grandiflora, 
and  represented  by  several  showy,  low-growing  varieties,  is 
really  a  form  of  A.  linifolia,  a  perennial  Portuguese  member 
of  this  little  genus  of  the  Order  PrimidacecB, 

ARGEMONE 

^^ Mexican  Poppy" — '^ DeviFs  Fig" 

Exceedingly  ornamental  are  the  handsome  Hardy  Annual 
species  of  Argemone  {Papaveracece)^  as  they  rise  to  a  height  of 
2  feet  or  more,  and  have  fairly  large  leaves  which  are  usually 
bristly  or  spiny,  and  are  often  blotched  with  white.  The 
large  Poppy-like  flowers  are  very  effective,  and  therefore  the 
plants  are  especially  suitable  for  large  borders  or  for  use  in 
sub-tropical  gardening.  It  is  usual  to  treat  the  Argemones  as 
Half-hardy,  and  sow  the  seeds  in  gentle  heat  in  March  or 
April,  but  there  is  no  need  to  take  this  amount  of  trouble  if  a 


ASPERULA  95 

warm  spot  is  chosen,  and  well-drained  soil  is  finely  worked 
down  ready  to  receive  the  seeds  at  the  end  of  March.  As  all 
the  species  are  strong  growers,  the  seedlings  must  be  thinned 
out  or  transplanted  whilst  still  very  small. 

The  best  are  A.  albiflora,  \\  foot,  a  species  that  produces 
white  flowers  at  the  end  of  the  Summer  ;  A.  hispida,  2\  feet,  a 
fine  Californian  plant  that  blooms  in  the  early  Autumn,  and 
has  pure  white  flowers,  often  as  much  as  5  inches  across ; 
A.  mexicanay  2  feet,  a  yellow-flowered  species  from  Mexico  ; 
and  A.  ochroleuca,  2  feet,  another  Mexican  plant  with  pale 
yellow  flowers.  All  these  Argemones  are  lovers  of  sunshine, 
consequently  they  must  be  planted  in  a  bright,  sunny  position 
or  their  full  beauty  will  not  be  realised. 

ASPERULA 

"  Woodruff" 

All  the  members  of  the  Woodruff  family  {Rubiacecs)  are 
hardy,  and  one  of  them  is  an  Annual  that  has  achieved  some 
measure  of  popularity.  This  is  A.  azurea  (syn.  A.  azurea- 
setosa  and  A.  orientalis),  a  plant  prized  for  its  profusion  of 
small,  light  blue  flowers  which  are  very  suitable  for  use  in 
making  up  bouquets  and  other  floral  designs.  It  grows  about 
I  foot  high,  and  the  little  green  leaves  are  placed  eight 
together  in  whorls.  The  flowers  are  fragrant  and  last  well 
when  cut.  Any  good  garden  soil  will  suit  A.  azurea,  and  if 
seeds  are  sown  in  March  or  April  a  good  supply  of  plants  can 
be  raised ;  avoid  thick  sowing,  remembering  that  when  seeds 
are  small  and  cheap  there  is  a  great  temptation  to  sow 
thickly. 

ATRIPLEX 

"  Orache  " 

The  Orache,  Atriplex  hortensis,  is  best  known  in  the 
Kitchen  garden  because  it  is  a  fair  substitute  for  Spinach  ; 


96       PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

but  there  is  a  variety  named  A.  h.  atrosanpiinea — the  Giant 
Crimson  Orache — which  has  some  claim  to  notice  here.  This 
is  a  striking  plant,  rising  to  a  height  of  6  feet,  and  when  its 
leaves,  stems,  and  seed  vessels  have  all  turned  a  deep  crimson- 
red  colour  the  effect  is  rich  indeed.  For  sub-tropical 
effects,  for  the  Wild  garden  and  the  Bog  garden  this  is  a 
useful  subject.  The  Orache  is  quite  hardy,  and  seeds  may  be 
sown  either  in  the  Spring  or  late  Summer,  but  if  the  red- 
leaved  form  is  grown  for  decorative  purposes  the  plants  must 
be  given  ample  ro(jm  to  develop. 

BLUMENBACHIA 

At  least  one  species  of  Bhimenbacliia  {Loasacece)  claims 
attention  as  a  Hardy  Annual,  and  it  is  B.  insignis,  a 
trailing  plant  with  whitish  flowers,  each  an  inch  across.  The 
elegant  leaves  are  deeply  lobed.  Loasa  palmata  is  another 
name  for  this  Chilian  plant,  which  was  introduced  as  long  ago 
as  1826.  Sown  under  glass  in  March,  B.  insignis  will  germi- 
nate readily,  and  after  being  properly  hardened  the  plants  will 
be  ready  for  planting  out  in  early  June.  B.  multifida,  with 
green,  red,  and  yellow  flowers  ;  and  B.  contorta,  with  orange- 
red  flowers,  are  Half-hardy  Annuals,  but  of  less  merit.  All 
are  interesting,  but  they  are  not  at  all  common  in  gardens. 


BORAGO 

"  Borage  " 

Although  the  common  Borage,  Borago  officinalis 
{BoragijiacecB),  is  best  known  as  an  inhabitant  of  the  Kitchen 
garden,  it  is  frequently  found  in  the  Herb  garden,  and  some- 
times also  in  the  Flower  garden.  Its  bright  blue  flowers 
are  effective,  and  bees  are  very  fond  of  them.  This  is  an 
annual  species  rising  to  a  height  of  2  feet,  and  it  is  easily 
raised  from  a  Spring  sowing  in  well-worked  soil,  the  seedlings 


BROWALLIA  97 

being  subsequently  thinned  out  to  i|  foot  apart.  There  is 
a  white  flowering  variety  of  this  native  herb,  and  it  needs 
similar  care.  Formerly  the  Borage  was  in  great  demand 
for  its  flavouring,  and  even  now  it  is  sometimes  requisitioned 
for  the  preparation  of  Claret  Cup. 

BROWALLIA 

There  is  a  wonderful  diversity  of  opinion  as  to  the 
duration  of  Browallias  [Scrophularinece),  and  at  least  two 
gardening  dictionaries  give  the  greenhouse  Perennial  B.Jame- 
sonii  (correctly  Streptosolen  Jamesonii)  as  a  Half-hardy  Annual. 
The  species  are  variously  catalogued  as  Annuals,  Biennials, 
and  Perennials.  B.  demissa  (syn.  B.  elata)  is  a  Half-hardy 
Annual  that  is  good  out-of-doors  in  favoured  districts  and  in 
warm,  sunny  seasons,  but  it  is  most  successfully  managed  as 
a  greenhouse  plant.  However,  where  suitable  conditions 
prevail,  seeds  may  be  sown  in  a  temperature  of  60°  in 
March,  the  seedlings  being  potted  singly  into  small  pots 
as  soon  as  possible,  and  kept  growing  steadily  in  a  green- 
house until  they  can  be  safely  placed  in  a  frame  and 
hardened  off  preparatory  to  planting  them  in  groups  of  a 
dozen  or  so  in  June.  The  usual  height  of  the  plants  is  9 
inches  or  i  foot,  sometimes  it  is  18  inches,  and  the  rich 
violet-blue  flowers  are  carried  in  Verbena-like  clusters. 

CHARIEIS 

^^  Cape  Aster" 

Amellus  annuus  and  Kaulfiissia  amelloides  are  names  by 
which  Charieis  heterophylla  {Compositcz)  has  been  known.  It 
is  a  dwarf  plant  about  6  inches  high,  and  bears  azure-blue, 
Daisy-like  flowers  on  slender  stems.  Grown  in  a  mass  or 
forming  a  carpeting  for  a  bed  of  taller  subjects,  it  is  very 
effective.  Besides  the  type  there  are  now  white,  violet,  and 
crimson   varieties,   hence   it   is    possible    to    produce    some 


98        PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

charming  combinations.  Sow  in  March  in  gentle  heat  and 
plant  out  8  inches  apart  in  May,  or  sow  out-of-doors  in 
April  and  thin  the  seedlings  to  the  required  distance. 

COLLOMIA 

The  Collomias  {Poiemoniaiece)  are  not  very  popular,  but 
they  are  interesting;  about  i\  foot  high,  they  carry  large 
heads  of  bright  flowers,  and  are  easily  managed  either  from 
a  Spring  or  an  Autumn  sowing.  Like  the  Colhnsias,  they 
flower  best  in  rather  poor  soil  and  they  like  a  sunny  position. 
The  best  species  are  C.  cocci?tea  (svn.  C.  lateritia),  rich  red  ; 
C.  gravdiflora,  reddish-yellow  ;  C.  heterophylla,  purple  ;  and 
C.  linearis,  yellowish-brown. 

CYNOGLOSSUM 

*'  Hound s  Tongtte  " 

At  least  one  species  of  Cynoglossum  {Boraginacecs)  is  of 
Annual  duration,  and  it  is  one  of  the  prettiest  members  of 
the  Hound's  Tongue  family.  This  is  C.  Wallichii,  a  Himalayan 
plant  that  is  valuable  for  the  Rock  garden  and  useful  for 
edging  or  carpeting.  It  is  not  much  grown,  but  it  only 
needs  to  be  taken  in  hand  by  some  prominent  grower  to 
become  popular.  Of  lowly  habit,  rising  9  inches  high,  and 
perfectly  hardy,  it  produces  rich,  deep-blue  flowers  of 
Forget-me-Not  type  in  profusion.  The  seeds  should  be 
sown  in  poor  soil  in  September,  or  at  the  end  of  March 
where  the  plants  are  to  flower,  it  is  an  altogether  charming 
little  plant. 

DOLICHOS 

"  Hyacinth  Bean  " 

Dolichos  Lablab  {Leguminosce)  is  a  Half-hardy  Annual, 
but  not  a  popular  or  very  important  one,  as  it  is  rarely  a 
success  unless  given  a  specially  warm,  sunny  place  and  the 


DOWNINGIA  99 

protection  of  a  wall.  It  grows  much  after  the  style  of  a 
Runner  Bean,  and  bears  clusters  of  rosy-violet  flowers  which 
are  followed  by  rich  ruby-coloured  pods  that  are  very 
interesting  and  attractive.  If  each  seed  is  sown  in  a  3-inch 
pot  and  placed  in  a  temperature  of  about  65°  in  March, 
and  the  seedlings  are  subsequently  potted  and  duly  hardened 
so  as  to  be  ready  for  planting  out  early  in  June,  good  results 
may  be  expected,  especially  if  the  season  is  a  warm  one,  like 
that  of  1911. 

DOWNINGIA 

Two  charming  little  Hardy  Annuals  that  have  not  yet 
received  the  attention  they  merit  are  Downingia  elegans  and 
D.  pulchella  {CatnpanulacecB).  They  are  Californian  subjects 
and  love  the  sunshine  ;  they  grow  about  6  inches  high,  and 
give  bright  blue  flowers,  with  white  or  yellow  centre.  There 
is  much  to  commend  them  for  bedding  purposes,  and  they 
have  the  merit  of  being  easily  raised  from  seeds  sown  either  in 
gentle  heat  or  on  a  warm  border  in  the  early  Spring.  They 
should  be  planted  about  6  inches  apart.  D.  pulchella  makes  a 
good  plant  for  small,  hanging  baskets.  Other  names  for  the 
Downingias  are  Clintonia  elegans  and  C.  pulchella. 

EUCHARIDIUM 

California  is  the  home  of  a  large  number  of  Annuals,  and 
no  doubt  many  more  Californian  plants  would  be  popular  here 
if  long  bright  summers  were  usual.  The  Eucharidiums 
{Onagracea)  do  not  come  prominently  before  the  public,  but 
they  are  none  the  less  beautiful  and  useful.  Two  species  are 
Hardy  Annuals,  and  these  are  E.  Bretveri,  6  inches,  pale  rose, 
fragrant ;  and  E.  concinnum,  8  inches,  from  blush  to  lilac- 
purple.  There  is  a  grandiflorum  variety  of  the  latter  species 
which  is  sometimes  given  the  dignity  of  specific  rank,  but  it 
is  merely  a  variety  with  larger  flowers  than  the  type. 

Autumn-raised  seedlings  give  by  far  the  best  results,  there- 


100      PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

fore  sowing  should  take  place  in  August,  the  seedlings  being 
thinned  to  4  inches  apart.  From  a  March  sowing  a  hatch 
may  be  raised  to  bloom  at  the  end  of  the  Summer.  The 
Eucharidiums  are  not  over  particular  as  to  soil  and  position, 
but,  as  in  the  case  of  other  Annuals  from  California,  they  do 
best  in  a  sunny  position. 

ERYTHRAEA 

"  Centaury" 

The  Common  Centaury,  Erythraea  Centaurium  {Gentian- 
acece),  is  a  lowly  Hardy  Annual  suitable  for  the  Rock  garden  ; 
it  is  from  8  inches  to  12  inches  high,  and  bears  its  neat,  rosy 
flowers  in  June  and  July.  E.  spicata  and  E.  venusta  have  pink 
flowers  ;  the  former  is  Half-hardy. 

GNAPHALIUM 

"  Cud-weed" 

The  Gnaphaliums  {Compositce)  are  of  little  garden  value, 
and  deserve  mention  only  because  of  the  "Everlasting" 
character  of  their  small  flowers.  The  latter  are  carried  in 
closely-packed  clusters  produced  terminally  and  laterally. 
The  best  Hardy  Annuals  are  G.  foetidum,  \\  foot,  yellow; 
and  G.  obtusifolmm,  i  foot,  yellow. 

GRASSES 

The  value  of  the  ornamental  grasses  {Graminece)  lies  more 
in  the  usefulness  of  their  spikes  for  association  with  cut  flowers 
than  in  their  effectiveness  in  the  garden.  If  carefully  picked 
just  before  the  spikelets  open,  these  grasses  may  be  dried,  and 
will  then  be  found  to  serve  for  Winter  decorations  indoors. 
A  good  selection  is  as  follows  :  Agrostis  ?iebulosa,  \\  foot ;  A. 
pulchella,  6  inches  ;  Briza  maxima,  i  foot ;  B.  minor,  i  foot  ; 
Chry  sums  aureus,  i\  foot;   Coix  lachryma,  \\  foot;  Eragrostis 


GRAMMANTHES  loi 

elegans,  i\  foot ;  Hordiumjubatum,  i|  foot ;  Lagurus  ovatus,  i| 
foot ;  Panicunt  capillare,  i\  foot ;  P.  oryzinum^  2  feet ;  Paspaluni 
elegans,  3  feet ;  Pennisetum  longistylum,  2  feet ;  Stipa  pejinata, 
2  feet  ;  and  Tricholaena  rosea,  2  feet.  These  are  Hardy  Annuals, 
and  in  most  cases  do  well  either  sown  in  Spring  or  Autumn, 
but  they  are  often  treated  as  Half-hardy  and  raised  under  glass 
or  in  a  frame  in  the  early  Spring,  the  seedlings  being  planted 
out  in  a  warm  situation  in  May. 

GRAMMANTHES 

A  little  plant  growing  not  more  than  3  or  4  inches  high, 
and  with  succulent  leafage  and  inch-broad,  yellow  flowers 
that  turn  reddish  when  fully  opened,  is  Gramnianthes  gen- 
tianoides  [CrassulacecB).  For  a  warm  place  in  the  Rock  garden 
it  is  charming,  and  as  it  is  easily  raised  in  gentle  heat  in  Spring 
it  deserves  attention.  It  is  a  South  African  Half-hardy  plant 
of  considerable  merit. 

HEBENSTREITIA 

Although  Hebenstreitia  coinosa  {Selaginacece)  was  brought 
into  prominent  notice  by  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons  about  1902, 
the  species  was  fairly  well  known  in  botanic  gardens  many 
years  previously.  It  is  an  interesting  plant  with  erect,  Mig- 
nonette-like spikes  of  whitish,  red-marked  flowers,  the  chief 
merit  of  which  lies  in  the  fragrance  they  emit  in  the  evenings. 
H.  comosa  is  a  Half-hardy  Annual  from  the  Cape  ;  it  grows  i| 
foot  high,  and  is  best  raised  in  gentle  heat  in  Spring  and 
planted  out  in  May  or  June. 

HELIOPHILA 

"  Cape  Stock" 

The  Heliophilas  {Cruciferce)  form  a  fairly  large  family  of 
South  African  plants,  several  of  which  are  Half-hardy  Annuals 
that  can  be  raised  under  glass  in  Spring,  or  out-of-doors  in 


I02     PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

March  or  April.  They  are  distinct  and  pretty  plants,  but' 
rather  short  lived,  and  therefore  not  of  first-class  garden 
value.  The  chief  species  are  :  H.  crithnifolia,  6  inches,  violet ; 
and  H.  pilosa,  6  inches  to  12  inches,  blue,  and  its  variety  H. 
p.  incisa,  with  trifid  leaves.  //.  pilosa  is  also  known  as  H. 
stricia,  and  its  variety  as  H.  araboides. 

HIBISCUS 

"  Rose  Mallow 

The  Hibiscus  family  {Malvacece)  has  a  very  wide  range,  and 
includes  plants  from  tropical,  sub-tropical,  and  temperate 
regions,  but  most  of  the  species  are  Perennial,  some  of  them 
growing  to  considerable  size,  and  becoming  small  trees. 
There  is  one  Hardy  Annual  species,  H.  Trionium  (syn.  H. 
africanum),  2  feet  high,  with  yellow  flowers  that  have  a  purple 
centre.  A  variety  of  H.  Trionium  known  as  "  Black  Eyed 
Susan "  has  deep  cream-coloured  flowers  with  red-brown 
centre.  Sow  the  seeds  where  the  plants  are  to  flower  in 
April,  and  thin  out  to  8  to  12  inches  apart.  Light  and  some- 
what dry  soil  and  a  sunny  position  are  desirable,  as  the 
flowers  do  not  properly  open  except  in  sunshine. 

JASIONE 

"  Sheep" s-lnt  Scabious  " 

Jasione  montafia  {Campanulacea),  a  native  plant  of  un- 
doubted hardiness,  makes  a  pretty  plant  for  the  Rock  garden. 
From  6  to  8  inches  high,  it  carries  its  pale  blue  flowers 
in  roundish  heads.  Sow  seeds  in  March  where  the  plants 
are  to  flower,  and  thin  to  6  inches  apart. 

LASTHENIA 

An  easily  grown  plant  is  the  Californian  Lasthenia glabrata 
(syn.   L.   calif ornica   and  Hologyne  glabrata).     It  is  a   pretty 


PLATE   VIII 

DOUBLE   ZINNIAS 

{^Zinnia  ekgans) 


LAYIA  105 

Composite,  about  2\  feet  high,  with  yellow  Inula-like  flowers. 
Sown  in  April  in  any  good  garden  soil  and  duly  thinned  it 
is  satisfactory,  but  earlier  and  larger  plants  are  produced 
if  seeds  are  sown  in  gentle  heat  in  March,  or  in  a  frame 
in  October  and  the  plants  given  frame  protection  during 
Winter.  In  some  favoured  situations  it  may  be  sown  out-of- 
doors  in  September,  and  where  it  thus  succeeds  it  makes  a 
rare  display  of  golden  blossoms  in  the  early  Spring. 


LAYIA 

''Tidy  Tips'* 

Three  species  of  Layia  {Compositce)  are  in  cultivation,  and 
these  are  lowly  Hardy  Annuals  of  some  beauty  and  worth. 
They  are  seldom  seen  in  private  gardens,  but  they  merit 
and  pay  for  attention.  L.  calliglossa  grows  i  foot  high,  and 
bears  a  profusion  of  yellow,  white-bordered,  golden-centred 
flowers  over  a  goodly  period  ;  L.  elegans  rarely  exceeds  8 
inches,  it  spreads  or  sprawls  somewhat,  and  carries  its 
yellow  flowers  above  grey-green  foliage ;  L.  glandulosa,  i 
foot,  has  snowy-white  flowers  and  is  a  good  plant.  Sow 
out-of-doors  in  April  and  again  in  September  to  secure  a 
succession  of  flowers.  Any  good  garden  soil  will  suit  the 
Layias. 

LOTUS 

''Birds-foot  Trefoil"  or  "  Winged  Pea** 

Several  species  of  Lotus  are  Hardy,  but  only  one  need 
be  mentioned  here,  and  that  is  L.  Tetragonolobus  {Legu- 
minoscs),  the  Winged  Pea.  This  is  6  inches  to  12  inches  high, 
and  produces  its  purple  flowers  through  the  Summer.  For 
the  Rock  garden  or  for  a  sunny  place  in  light  soil  it  would 
be  suitable.  Another  name  for  this  plant  is  Tetragonolobus 
purpureus. 


io6     PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

LONAS 

Lonas  inodora  is  a  North  African  and  Sicilian  Composite  that 
has  some  claim  to  notice  because  of  the  "Everlasting" 
character  of  its  yellow  flowers,  which  are  produced  in 
terminal  clusters  in  Summer  and  Autumn.  Sow  in  gentle 
heat  in  March,  or  out-of-doors  in  April,  thinning  or  planting 
the  seedlings  6  inches  apart.  The  height  is  usually  i  foot. 
Another  name  for  this  plant  is  Athanasia  annua. 

MADIA 

"  Madia-Oil  Plant " 

This  little  genus  of  Co mposita;  includes  two  Haidy  Annuals, 
and  one  of  them,  M.  elegans,  2  feet,  yellow  and  red,  might 
improve  under  a  system  of  selection.  It  has  Daisy-like 
flowers,  the  central  or  terminal  one  always  opening  first  on  both 
the  leading  or  lateral  stems.  M.  sativus,  1  foot,  yellow,  the 
Madia-Oil  plant,  is  of  less  garden  value.  Sow  in  April  and 
thin  to  6  inches  or  8  inches  apart.  Madaria  is  another  title 
for  this  genus. 

MEDICAGO 
"  Calvary  Clover" — "  Medick  " 

The  Medicagos  {Leguviinosce)  constitute  a  large  family,  and 
form  a  very  useful  one  considered  as  fodder  plants,  but  few 
of  them  are  of  much  garden  value.  They  are  hardy  and  easily 
raised  from  seeds  sown  in  Spring  or  Autumn  where  the  plants 
are  to  fiowtr.  The  best  of  the  Annuals  are  M.  Echinus,  the 
Calvary  Clover,  8  inches,  yellow  ;  and  M.  scutulata,  6  inches, 
yellow. 

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM 

"  Fig  Marigold" — "  Ice  Plant " 

For  warm  and  moderately  dry  places,  and  especially  for 
sunny  spots  in  the  Rock  garden,  several  of  the  Mesembryun- 


MOLUCCELLA  107 

themums  {FicoidecB)  are  deserving  of  attention,  as  they  are 
very  bright  and  beautiful  when  their  flowers  open  in  the 
sunshine.  If  sown  under  glass  in  gentle  heat  in  March  it  is 
an  easy  matter  to  obtain  good  plants  ready  to  put  out  where 
they  are  to  flower,  at  the  end  of  May  or  early  in  June, 
according  to  the  locality.  The  seeds  need  be  only  just 
covered  with  fine  sandy  soil. 

The  best  of  these  Half-hardy  Annuals  are  M.  crystallinum, 
commonly  known  as  the  Ice  Plant,  a  trailer,  with  white  or 
pink  flowers ;  M.  pomeridianum,  i  foot,  yellow ;  and  M. 
pyropeum  (syn.  M.  tricolor),  6  inches,  rose,  white,  and  crimson, 
or  white  and  purple.  The  latter  is  the  Fig  Mangold,  and 
is  an  attractive  plant,  flowering  with  great  freedom  in 
bright  weather.  Some  lime  rubble  in  the  soil  suits  all  the 
Mesembryanthemums. 

MOLUCCELLA 

''Molucca  Balm"— ''  Shell  Flower" 

More  curious  than  beautiful,  at  least  one  species  of 
Moluccella,  namely,  M.  Laevis  {Labiates),  merits  culture  be- 
cause of  its  striking  appearance,  the  growths  being  furnished 
for  the  greater  part  of  their  length  with  whorls  of  small, 
whitish,  labiate  flowers,  and  each  flower  has  a  large  mem- 
branaceous and  finely  veined  calyx,  that  lasts  some  time  after 
the  flowers  have  faded.  The  stems  are  i|  to  2  feet  high.  This 
is  a  Hardy  Annual,  but  is  best  managed  if  sown  in  gentle 
heat  in  the  early  Spring,  and  planted  out  in  May.  A  few 
plants  are  worth  growing  for  their  novel  and  interesting 
appearance. 

NOLANA 

''Chilian  Bell-Flower" 

A  small  and  neglected  family  are  the  Nolanas  {Con- 
volvulacecB).     Perhaps   they   will    become   more    popular    in 


io8      PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

connexion  with  Rock-gardening,  as  they  are  of  lowly  traihng 
habit  and  have  large,  bright,  bell-shaped  flowers.  Sow  in 
March,  out-of-doors,  in  light  gritty  soil  containing  leaf- 
mould,  and  thin  out  to  6  inches  apart.  The  best  are  N. 
atriplicifolia,  4  inches,  blue,  with  white  and  yellow  throat; 
N.  lanceolata,  blue,  white,  and  green  ;  N.  paradoxa,  i  foot,  blue  ; 
and  N.  prostrata,  3  inches,  blue.  The  latter  is  an  old  garden 
plant  and  a  charming  one. 

PLATYSTEMON 
"  Califomian  Poppy  " 

Platystemon  californicum  {Papaveracea)  has  considerable 
merit  as  a  Hardy  Annual  because  of  its  spreading  habit,  light 
glaucous  green  leaves,  and  pale,  creamy-yellow  flowers.  Being 
only  about  9  inches  high  it  is  suitable  for  the  Rock  garden, 
but  it  is  also  useful  for  massing  in  a  border,  especially  in 
light  soil  and  a  sunny  position.  Sow  where  it  is  to  flower, 
and  thin  out  to  4  or  5  inches  apart.  In  many  gardens  this 
Poppywort  sows  itself  regularly  from  seeds  ;  it  used  to  do 
so  in  the  old  Chiswick  gardens  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society. 

PODOLEPIS 

Possibilities  of  improvement  seem  latent  in  the  small 
genus  of  Australian  Composites  named  Podolepis.  Two  species 
are  Hardy  Annuals,  about  i  foot  high,  with  yellow  flower 
heads,  borne  on  graceful  stems.  P.  acuminata  is  slightly 
taller  than  P.  aristata,  but  the  latter  species  is  very  graceful  and 
is  worth  growing  in  pots.  Sow  under  glass  in  April,  or  out- 
of-doors  in  May,  and  thin  out  to  i  foot  apart. 

SANVITALIA 

Sanvitalia procumbens  {Composites)  is  a  very  pretty,  trailing, 
Hardy  Annual  from  Mexico.  The  small,  yellow,  dark-centred 
flowers  are  like  those  of  a  Rudbeckia  in   miniature,  and  as 


THELESPERMA  109 

they  are  produced  with  freedom  the  plant  is  worthy  of  a 
place  for  edging,  bedding,  or  for  the  Rock  garden.  There 
is  a  double  as  well  as  a  single  variety,  each  about  6  inches 
high,  and  a  dwarf  strain  called  Little  Gem  is  of  very  com- 
pact habit  and  rarely  reaches  6  inches. 

THELESPERMA 

This  is  a  small  genus  of  Composites,  and  the  one  Hardy 
Annual  species  is  F.  filifolia,  \\  foot,  yellow,  with  purple 
disk.  This  needs  the  same  treatment  as  Coreopsis,  to 
which  it  is  allied.  A  hybrid  between  this  species  and 
Coreopsis  ti?ictoria  is  sometimes  known  as  C.  Burridgei,  or 
Cosmidium  Burridgeanum. 

TRACHYMENE 

Trachymene  coerulea  ( UinbellifercB),  known  also  as  Didiscus 
coeruleus,  is  a  rather  rough  Half-hardy  Annual  from  Australia. 
It  is  about  i^  foot  high,  and  has  blue  flowers.  Sow  in  heat 
in  Spring,  and  plant  out  after  hardening  the  plants. 

THUNBERGIA 

Most  of  the  Thunbergias  [Acanthacece)  are  stove  or  green- 
house climbers,  but  one  species,  T.  alata,  is  a  Half-hardy 
Annual  suitable  alike  for  greenhouse  or  conservatory,  or 
for  a  warm  place  in  a  sheltered  garden.  This  has  yellow, 
tubular  flowers  with  purplish  throat.  In  the  variety  aurantiaca 
the  flowers  are  orange-yellow  with  maroon  centre,  while 
in  alba  they  are  white.  The  seeds  must  be  sown  in  heat 
in  March,  and  each  plant  be  given  a  pot  to  itself  at  an 
early  stage,  with  a  stick  to  twine  round.  After  due  harden- 
ing, planting  out  should  take  place  in  June.  Thunbergia 
alata  makes  a  good  basket  plant  if  the  points  of  growth  are 
occasionally  pinched  out  to  induce  a  free  branching  habit. 


no     PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

URSINIA 
Under  the  name  of  Sphenog)'ne  anthemot'des,  or  Arctotis 
ant/iemotdes,  the  little  yellow  Composite  named  Ursinia  anthe- 
moides  is  occasionally  grown  in  gardens.  It  grows  about 
8  inches  high,  and  has  purplish  colouring  on  the  underside 
of  the  white  ray  florets.  U.  pulchra  is  also  known  as 
Spkenogj'ne  speciosa,  and  seeds  of  it  are  so  offered  in  cata- 
logues ;  it  is  8  inches  high,  and  has  orange-yellow  flowers. 
These  plants  resemble  the  Coreopsis,  and  they  should  be 
raised  in  gentle  heat  in  March,  or  sown  in  the  open  in  April. 
Plant  6  inches  apart. 

VERONICA 

**  Speediuell" 

One  or  two  species  of  Speedwell  {Scrophidariaceie)  are 
Hardy  Annuals  of  merit,  and  those  of  most  importance  are 
V.  g/auca,  6  inches,  blue  ;  and  V.  syriaca,  6  inches,  bright 
blue.  Both  are  best  sown  in  Autumn,  where  they  are  to 
flower,  and  thinned  to  4  inches  apart. 

WAITZIA 

The  V^-si\iz\-ai^{CovipositiE)  form  a  small  genus  of  Australian 
plants,  all  Half-hardy  Annuals,  with  flowers  of  "Everlasting" 
character.  They  grow  about  18  inches  high,  and  flower 
at  the  end  of  the  Summer.  The  best  species  is  W.  aurea, 
bright  golden-yellow.  It  must  be  sown  in  heat  in  March 
and  planted  in  a  sunny  spot  in  June. 

XANTHISMA 

Xanthisma  texana  is  a  yellow-flowered  Composite  of  some 
merit  for  grouping  in  the  borders  ;  it  is  Summer  flowering, 
and  grows  about  2  feet  high.  Sow  in  April  where  the  plants 
are  to  flower. 


SELECTIONS    OF    ANNUALS       in 

XERANTHEMUM 

^^  Ivimortelle  " 

Every  one  knows  the  Immortelles  so  largely  used  for 
funeral  wreaths,  especially  in  France,  because  of  their  lasting 
properties.  These  are  Xeranthemums  {Compositce),  the  species 
grown  being  X.  an?iuum  and  X.  mapertum,  the  former  with 
purple  flower  heads  and  the  latter  with  white  heads.  These 
plants  belong  to  the  group  of  "  Everlastings,"  and  need  similar 
treatment  to  those  of  this  nature  already  described. 

ZALUZIANSKYA 

Under  this  tiresome  name  the  identity  of  a  little  plant 
better  known  as  Nycterinia  capensis  is  almost  lost.  Z.  capensis 
{Scrophularinece)  comes  to  us  from  South  Africa,  as  its  name 
suggests  ;  it  grows  8  inches  high,  and  forms  compact  little 
bushes  bearing  white  flowers.  Z.  selagmoides,  4  inches,  white, 
with  orange-coloured  centre,  is  like  Z.  capensis,  sweetly  scented 
at  night,  and  therefore  both  deserve  to  be  grown.  They  are 
Half-hardy,  and  may  be  raised  under  glass  in  March  or  in  the 
open  at  the  end  of  April.  The  seeds  are  small  and  must  be 
merely  covered  with  soil.     Thin  out  or  plant  6  inches  apart. 


CHAPTER   V 

SELECTIONS   OF   ANNUALS 

As  so  much  depends  upon  personal  taste,  the  conveniences 
at  disposal,  and  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  it  becomes 
a  very  arbitrary  proceeding  to  make  a  selection  from  the 
plants  described  in  this  work  and  call  them  "  the  best." 
However,  the  task  is  worth  attempting  for  the  guidance  of 
those  unacquainted  with  Annuals.  In  the  following  selec- 
tions due  consideration  is  given  to  the  general  usefulness  of 


112     PRESENT-DAY    GARDENING 

the  subjects,  and  not  alone  to  their  value  eitiier  for  effect 
or  for  cutting.  The  ever  popular  Sweet  Peas  are  omitted, 
because  they  are  dealt  with  in  a  separate  volume  of  the 
Present-Day  Gardening  series. 

Below  are  given  four  dozen  genera,  and  they  are  placed 
in  dozens  according  to  merit : — 

Asters  {Callistephus),  Chrysanthemums,  Sunflowers  {Heli- 
antlius),  Stocks  {Matlhiola),  Tropaeolums  or  Nasturtiums, 
Candytuft  {Iberis),  Godetias  {CEnotliera\  Sweet  Scabious 
{Scahiosa),  Marigolds  {Calendidla  and  Tagetes),  Clarkias, 
Phlox  Drumviondii,  and  Poppies  {Popaver). 

Coreopsis,  Mignonette  {Reseda),  Lupins  {Lupinus),  Indian 
Pinks  {Diaut/tns),  Sweet  Sultans  and  Cornflowers  {Cenfaurea), 
Larkspurs  {Delp/iiuium),  Zinnias,  Gaillardias,  Nigella,  Nemo- 
phila,  Nemesia,  and  Gvpsophila. 

Sweet  Alyssum  {A/j'ssum),  Balsams  {Impattens),  Dimor- 
phothecas,  Eschscholzias,  Cosmeas,  Nicotianas,  Linums, 
Ipomaeas,  Salpiglossis,  Lavateras  or  Mallows,  Convolvuluses, 
and  Portulacas. 

Swan  River  Daisies  {Br achy  come),  Erysimum,  Helichry- 
sums,  Silene,  Senecio,  Saponaria,  Matricaria,  Statice,  Mentzelia, 
Linaria,  Collinsia  and  Lychnis. 

Good  Climbing  Annuals:  —  Tropaeolums,  Ipomaeas, 
Japanese    Hop,   Sweet   Peas,  and  Thunbergia. 

Annuals  for  the  Rock  Garden  : — Adonis,  Alyssum,  Caland- 
rinia,  Campanulas,  Candytuft,  Indian  Pinks,  Erysimum, 
Gypsophila,  lonopsidium,  Linaria,  Lychnis,  Nemophila, 
Omphalodes,  Phacelia,  Phlox  Dnivimondiiy  Portulaca, 
Saponaria,  Silene  and  Malcomia. 

Annuals  for  Edging  or  Carpeting : — Alyssum,  Candytuft, 
Erysimum,  Mesembiyanthemum,  Nemophila,  Phacelia,  Phlox 
Dnwimondii,  Portulaca,  Saponaria,  Silene,  Brachycome, 
Mignonette,  Dwarf  Tropaeolums,  Convolvuluses,  Lychnis, 
and  Dwarf  French  Mangolds. 


INDEX 


ACROCLINIUM  roseum,  50 
Adonis  aestivalis,  11 
amurensis,  11 

autumnalis,  11 

vernalis,  11 
Ageratum  mexicana,  12 
Ageratums,  Varieties  of,  15 
Agrostemma  Coela-rosea,  63 
Agrostis  nebulosa,  100 

pulchella,  100 
Alonsoa  linifolia,  15 

miniata,  15 

Mutisii,  15 

Warscewiczii,  15 
Alyssum  maritimuni,  16 
Amaranth,  16 
Amaranthus  bicolor,  17 

bicolor  ruber,  17 

caudatus,  17 

Henderi,  17 

hypochondriacus,  17 

melancholicus,  17 

paniculatus,  17 

salicifolius,  17 

sangiaineus,  17 

speciosus,  17 

tricolor,  17 

tricolor  splendens,  17 
Amellus  annuus,  97 
Ammobium  alatum,  93 

plantagineum,  93 
Anagallis  arvensis,  94 

grandiflora,  94 

indica,  94 

latifolia,  94 

linifolia,  94 
Androsace  coronopifolia,  18 

lactiflora,  18 
Annuals,  Bog-loving,  6 

Climbing,  5,  112 

for  Carpeting,  112 

for  Cutting,  4 

for  Edging,  112 

for    the    Rock    Garden,   5, 
112 

Selections  of,  in 

Value  of,  1 


Arctotis  anthemoides,  no 
Argemone  albiflora,  95 

hispida,  95 

mexicana,  05 

ochroleuca,  95 
Arnebia  cornuta,  ig 

Griffithii,  19 
Asperula  azurea,  95 

azurea-setosa,  95 

orieu talis,  95 
Asters,  Cape,  97 

China,  22 

French,  22 

German,  22 

Mexican,  34 

Ostrich  Plume,  23 

Quilled,  22 

Ray,  23 

Single,  23 

Victoria,  23 
Athanasia  annua,  106 
Atriplex    hortensis     atrosan- 
guinea,  96 


Balsam,  51 
Bartonia  aurea,  69 
Barton's  Golden  Flower,  69 
Bell  Flower,  27 
Belvedere,  55 
Bindweed,  33 
Bird's-foot  Trefoil,  105 
"  Black-eyed  Susan,"  102 
Blanket  Flower,  45 
Blumenbachia  contorta,  96 

insignis,  96 

multiflora,  96 
Bog-loving  Annuals,  6 
Borage,  96 
Borago  officinalis,  96 
Brachycome  iberidifolia,  19 
Briza  maxima,  100 

minor,  100 
Browallia  demissa,  97 

elata,  97 

Jamesonii,  97 
Butterfly  Flower,  83 


Cacalia  coccinea,  40 
Calandrinia  grandiflora,  20 

Menziesii,  20 

speciosa,  20 
Calendula  aegyptica,  21 

arvensis,  21 

maderensis,  21 

cifficinalis,  21 
CaliforniaJi  Bluebell,  70 
Californian  Poppy,  108 
Callistephus  hortensis,  22 
Calvary  Clover,  106 
Campanula  attica,  27 

drabaefolia,  27 

Lorezii,  27 

macrostyla,  27 

ramosissima,  27 
Campion,  63,  85 
Canary  Creeper,  92 
Candytufts,  50 
Cape  Aster,  97 
Cape  Daisy,  39 
Cape  Stock,  loi 
Catchfly,  85 
Centaurea  Cyanus,  28 

depressa,  29 

moschata,  29 

suaveolens,  29 
Centaury,  100 
Chalk  Plant,  47 
Charieis  heterophylla,  97 
Chilian  Bell-flower,  108 
Chrysanthemum       Burridge- 
anum,  30 

carinatum,  30 

ccronarium,  30 

segetum,  30 

tricolor,  30 
Chrysurus  aureus,  100 
Clarkia  elegans,  32 

pulchella,  32 
Climbers,  4,  5 
Clintonia  elegans,  99 

pulchella,  99 
Cochlearia  acaulis,  55 
Coix  lachryma,  100 
Collin's  Flower,  32 
H 


114 

Collinsia  bicolor,  32 

bartsiaefolia,  32 

corymbosa,  3a 

grandiflora,  32 

parviflora,  32 

sparsiflora,  33 

tinctoria,  32 

violacea,  32 
Collomia  coccinea,  98 

grandiflora,  98 

heterophylla,  98 

lateritia,  98 

linearis,  98 
Convolvulus  major,  33.  55 

minor,  33 

tricolor,  33 
Coreopsis  aristosa,  34 

Atkmsoniana,  34 

Burridgei,  34,  lO) 

cardaminacfolia,  34 

coronata,  34 

Drummondii,  33 

tinctoria,  33 
Corn  Adonis.  11 

Flowers,  28 

Marigold,  30 

Violet,  86 
Cosmidium       Burridgeanur 

109 
Cosmos  bipmnatus,  34 

suiplmreus,  35 

tenuifolius,  35 
Crown  Daisy,  30 
Cud-wee<l,  loo 
Cultivation,  6 
Cuphca  aequipetala,  35 

lanceolata,  35 

ocimoides,  35 

silonoides,  35 

Zim.ipanii,  35 
Cyno-lossum  Wallichii,  98 


Datura  ceratocaula,  36 

chlorantha  fl.  pi. ,  36 

fastuosa.  36 

Huberiana,  36 

Metel,  36 

muricata,  36 

ciuercifolia.  36 

Stramonium,  36 

Tatula.  36 

Tatula  gigantea,  36 
Delphinium  Ajacis,  37 

cardiopetalum,  37 

consolida.  37 
Devil-in-a-Bush,  72 
Devil's  Fig,  94 
Dianthus  Arnieria,  39 


INDEX 


Dianthus  caryophyllus,  39 

chinensis,  ^9 

Heddewigii,  37,  38 
Diascia  Barberae,  39 
Didiscus  coeruleus,  109 
Dimorphothecaaurantiaca,  40 

pluvialis,  40 
Dolichos  Lablab,  98 
Downingia  elegans,  99 

pulchella,  99 

Elephant's  Trunk,  64 
Emilia  flammea,  40,  43 
EragTosiis  elegans,  loo-i 
Erysimum  arkansanum,  43 

Perofskianum,  43 
Erythraea  Centaurium,  100 

spicata,  100 

venusta,  100 
Eschscholzia  californica,  44 
Eucharidium  Breweri,  99 

concinnum,  99 
Eutoca  viscida,  78 
Everhisling  Flowers,  49,  100, 

106,  no,  III 

Sandflower,  93 

Feathery  Cosmea,  34 
Fig  Marigold,  106 
Flax,  61 
Floss  Flower,  12 


Gaillardia  amblyodon,  45 

bicolor,  45 

Drummondii,  45 

Lorcnziana,  45 

pulchella,  45 
Gilia  achilleaefolia,  4 

androsacea,  46 

capitata,  46 

densiflorus,  46 

ciianthoides,  46 

laciniata,  46 

micrantha,  46 

tricolor,  46 
Gnaphalium  foctidum,  100 

obtusifolium.  100 
Godetias,  75,  76 
Grammanthes    gentianuides, 

lOI 

Grasses.  100 
Groundsel,  84 
Gymnolomia  multiflora,  46 
Gypsophila  elegans,  47 

muralis,  47 

paniculata,  47 

rosea,  47 
I  Gypsy  Flower,  47 


Hebenstreitia  comosa,  101 
Hedge  Mustard,  43 
Helianthus  annuus,  48,  49 

argophyllus,  49 

cucumerifolius,  48,  49 

debilis,  49 
Helichrysum  bracteatum,  49 
Heliophila  araboides,  loa 

crithmifolia,  loa 

pilosa,  102 

stricta,  102 
llelipterum  t'otula,  50 

Humboldtianum,  50 

Manglesii,  50 

Sandfordianum,  50 
Hibiscus  africanum,  loa 

Trionium,  loa 
Hoeing,  10 

Hologyne  glabrata,  loa 
Hordium  jubatuin,  loi 
Hound'b  Tongue,  98 
Hamulus  japoiiicus,  50 
Hyacinth  Bean,  98 

iBERts  amara,  51 

coronaria,  51 

umbellata,  51 
Ice  Plant,  106 
Immortelle,  49,  in 
Impatiens  amptiorata,  54 

Balsaminea,  53,  54 

biflora,  54 

discolor,  54 

Roylei,  54 
lonopsidium  acaule,  54 
Ipomoea  purpurea,  55 

Jack-in-Prison,  72 
Jacobaea,  84 
Japanese  Hop,  50 
jasione  montana,  102 
Joseph's  Coat,  18 

Kaulfussia  amelloides,  97 
Knot  Grass,  79 
Kochia  scoparia,  56 
trichophila,  55,  56 
Koeniga  maritima,  16 

Lagurus  o^■atus,  loi 

Larkspur,  36 

Lasthenia  californica,  102 

glabrata,  102 
Laihyrus  odoratus,  56 

cirrhosus,  56 

Nissolia,  56 

tingitanus,  36 


Lavatera  splendens,  59 

trimestris,  59 
Layia  calliglossa,  105 

elegans,  105 

glandulosa,  105 
Leptosiphon     androsaceus, 
46 

densiflorus,  46 
Leptosynft  calliopsidea,  59 

Douglasii,  59 

Stillmanii,  59 
Limnanthes  Douglasii,  60 
Linaria  bipartita,  60 

maroccana,  60 

reticulata,  60 

spartea,  60 

tristis,  60 
Linum    grandiflorum    and 
varieties,  61 

usitatissimum,  61 
Loasa  palmata,  96 
Lonas  inodora,  106 
Lotus  Tetragonolobus,  105 
Love-in-a-Mist,  72 
Lupine,  61 
Lupinus  Cruickshanksii,  62 

densiflorus,  62 

Hartwegii,  62 

hybridus,  62 

luteus,  62 

Menziesii,  62 

mutabilis,  62 

nanus,  62 

subcarnosus,  62 
Lychnis  Coeli-rosea,  63 

Madaria,  106 
Madia  elegans,  106 

satirus,  106 
Madia-Oil  Plant,  106 
Malconiia  bicolor,  63 

Chia,  63 

littorea,  63 

maritima,  63 
Mallow,  59,  64 
Mallow-wort,  64 
Malope  trifida,  64 
Malva  crispa,  64 
Mangolds,  African,  87 

Corn,  30 

French,  87 

Mexican,  88 

Pot,  21 
Marty nia  annua,  64 

fragrans,  64 

proboscidea,  64 
Matricaria  inodora,  65 
Matthiola  annua,  66 

incana,  66 


INDEX 

Matthiola  sinuata,  66 

tristis,  68 
May  Weed,  65 
Meconopsis  heterophylla,  68 
Medicago  Echinus,  106 

scutellata,  106 
Medick,  106 
Mentzelia  Lindleyi,  69 
Mesembryanthemum   crystal- 
hnum,  107 

pomeridianuin,  107 

pyropeum,  107 

tricolor,  107 
Mexican  Cigar  Flower,  35 
Mexican  Poppy,  94 
Mignonette,  80 
Molucca  Balm,  107 
Moluccella  laevis,  107 
Morning  Glory,  55 

Namaqualand  Daisy,  40 
Nasturtium,  88 
Nemesia  bicornis,  70 

floribunda,  70 

strumosa,  70 

versicolor,  70 
Nemophila  insignis,  70,  71 

atomaria,  71 

maculata,  71 

Menziesii,  71 
Nicholson,  George,  39 
Nicotiana  afifinis,  71 

alata,  71 

colossea,  72 

colossea  variegata,  72 

noctiflora,  72 

Sanderae,  72 

rubra,  72 

sylvestris,  72 

Tabacum,  72 
Nigella  damascena,  72 

hispanica,  75 

Miss  Jekyll,  72 

orientalis,  75 

sativus,  75 
Nolana  atriplicifolia,  ro8 

lanceolata,  108 

paradoxa,  108 

prostrata,  108 
Nycterinia  capensis,  11 1 

CEnothera  amoena,  75 

Schaminii,  76 

Whitneyi,  76 
Omphalodes  linifolia,  76 
Orache,  95 

Panicum  capillare,  101 
oryzinuni,  loi 


"S 


Papaver  glaucum,  77 

laevigatum,  tj 

pavonium,  77 

Rheas,  77 

somniferum,  77 

umbrosum,  jj 
Paspalum  elegans,  loi 
Pennisetum  longistylum,  loi 
Perilla  nankinensis,  78 

ocimoides,  78 
Phacelia  campanularia,  78 

divaricata,  78 

Menziesii,  78 

Parryi,  78 

tanacetifolia,  78 

Whitlavia,  78 

viscida,  78 
Pharbitis  hispida,  55 
Pheasant's  Eye,  11 
Phlox  Drummondii,  78 
Pimpernel,  94 
Pinks,  Chinese,  37 

Indian,  37 

Japanese,  37 
Planting,  10 

Platystemon  californicum,  108 
Podolepis  acuminata,  108 

aristata,  108 
Polygonum  orientale,  79 
Poppies,  77 

Californian,  44 

Opium,  77 

Shirley,  77 

Tulip,  -jj 
Portulaca  grandiflora,  80 
Purslane,  80 

Red  Chamomile,  11 
Reseda  alba,  81 

luteola,  81 

odorata,  80,  81 
Rhodanthe  Manglesii,  50 
Rock  Alyssum,  16 
Rock  Purslane,  20 
Rose  Mallow,  102 
Rose  of  Heaven,  63 

Salpiglossis  sinuata,  81 
Sanvitalia  procunibens,  108 
Saponaria  calabrica,  82 

Vaccaria,  82 
Scabiosa  atropurpurea,  83 

brachiata,  83 

palaestina,  83 

stellata,  83 
Schizanthus  Grahamii,  84 

pinnatus,  84 

retusus,  84 

Wisetonensis,  84 


ii6 


INDEX 


Schizopelal'  n  WalWeri,  84 
Sea  Lavender,  86 
Seeding,  11 
Senecio  elegans,  84 
Sheep's-Bit  Scabious,  102 
Shell  Flower,  107 
Silene  gallici,  St> 

pendula  and  varieiies,  85 
Soapwort,  82 
Sowing.  7-g 
Specularia  falrata,  86 

hybrida,  86 

pentaj2;onia,  86 

perfoliata,  86 

Speculum.  86 
Speedwell,  no 
Sphctiogyneanthemoides,  no 

speciosa,  i  to 
Slaking,  10 
Statice  Honducllii,  87 

sinuala,  87 

Suworowii,  87 
Stipa  p'-nnala.  loi 
Stock-.,  65 

Redding,  68 

Bromplon,  67 

East  Lothian,  67,  68 

Intermediate,  67 

Night-scented,  68 

Ten-week,  66.  68 


Stocks.  Virginian.  63 
Wallflower-leaved,  68 

Summer  Cypress.  55 

Sunflower,  48 
a  ininiatur'',  46 

Swan  River  Daisy,  19 

Sweet  Alyssum,  16 

Sweet  Pea''.  56 

Sweet  Scabious,  83 

Sweet  Sultan.  a8 

Tagktes  erecu.  87 

luci'ia.  87 

patuia.  87 

signat  1 ,  87 
Tassel  Flower,  40 
Thelesperma  filifolia,  loq 
I  horn  Apple,  35 
Thunbergia  a!aU,  109 
Tick  Seed,  33 
Tidy  Tips,  105 
Toadflax,  60 
Tobacco.  71 

Trachymi-ne  coerulea,  109 
Tricholaena  rosia.  loi 
Tropaeolum  aduncum,  9a 

canaricnse,  93 

Lobbianum,  91 

majus.  91 

minus,  91 


Tropaeolums,  Climbing,  91 
Dwarf.  91 

Ursinia  anthemoides,  no 
pulchra.  no 

Vf.nus's  Navel-wort,  76 
Veronica  glauca,  no 

syriaca.  no 
Violet  Cre'-s,  54 
Virginian  Stock,  63 
Viscari a  oculata,  63 

Wait/ia  aiirea.  no 
Whitlavia  grandiflora,  78 
Wilks,  kev.  W.,  77 
Wingi  d  I'ca,  105 
Woodruff.  95 

Xanthisma  texaiia,  no 
Xcraiithemum  annuum.  in 
inapertum,  ni 

YocTU  and  Age,  93 

Zaluzianskya  capensis,  ni 

S'-laginoid<s,  ni 
Zinnia  elegans,  93 

Haageana,  93 

tenuifolia,  93 


THE    END 


Printed  by  Baliantynb,  Hanson  if  Co. 
Ediaburgh  &'  London 


